Shawnee Mission Foundation program sends high-schoolers through intensive two-week leadership training

Kim Hinkle, director of the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation, described Leadership Shawnee Mission as “a program of the foundation” that the foundation launched in 2018 to give promising juniors and seniors leadership experiences they might not otherwise have. The program runs for two intensive weeks, pairs students with career mentors and brings in outside facilitators to teach professional and real‑world skills.

Hinkle said the foundation looks for a diverse cohort: “We get hundreds of nominations and then every student that's nominated is invited to apply,” she said, adding the foundation values grit, resilience and a variety of future plans among applicants. Activities during the program include facilitated curriculum from partners such as Better Humans, team‑building exercises and a climbing wall that the foundation uses to create “literal highs and lows.”

Student Joseph “Joey” Duncan, a junior at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, said Leadership Shawnee Mission helped him improve communication and collaborate with peers who have different viewpoints. “I've definitely learned a lot about communication since Leadership Shawnee Mission, and I would definitely say that I'm better for it,” Joey said. Hosts and guests reiterated the program philosophy in simple terms: “leadership is a disposition, not a position.”

The foundation pairs each student with a career mentor to build social capital and expose students to career pathways; Hinkle said the program intentionally recruits students who have not previously held formal leadership roles as well as those who have. The foundation promotes student participants in district communications and events, including the fall breakfast and podcasts. New episodes of Shawnee Mission Mic'd Up drop every other Thursday and past episodes are available on smsd.org.