Students from six National Christian School Association (NCSA) schools attended the 2025 Presidential Leadership Institute, July 6-12, hosted by York University. With 36 student participants and 12 sponsors representing schools in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Australia, the campus was blessed by the week-long training and leadership program. The Presidential Leadership Institute, now in its eleventh year, is a joint effort of York University, Strata Leadership, and the NCSA to help students work in collaboration to address real-world challenges. The themes of faith, service, character, and leadership are woven together to challenge and inspire future leaders for a lifetime.
Student leadership teams experience a week of inspiration provided by CEOs, York University faculty, public servants, and other influential figures. This year’s speakers included Dr. Nathan Mellor, CEO of Strata Leadership; Dr. Steve Eckman, chancellor at York University; Dr. Jim Ice, founder and strategic leadership advisor at NorthStar Learning; Dr. Andrew Baker, president of the National Christian Schools Association (NCSA); Dr. Tim Westbrook, president of York University; Dr. Anessa Westbrook, co-executive director for the Center for Ministry at York University; Dr. Jared Pack, associate professor and chair of the department of history at York University and executive director of Presidential Leadership Institute; Mr. Joe Davis, director of online graduate enrollment at York University; and Senator Jana Hughes, Nebraska state senator.
On Tuesday, the students learned about Dwight D. Eisenhower’s quiet leadership. They then traveled to Abilene, Kan. on Wednesday to tour the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum.
The institute experience empowers students to make lasting changes on their campuses in the upcoming school year. Each team works to create a proposal to improve their school, then spends their week discussing solutions and strategies. The climax of the week is a TED Talk-style presentation from each student team, laying out the plan they will implement at their school.
The week ended with a banquet to celebrate their accomplishments. The evening was especially impactful for Alex Payne from Foundation Christian Academy, Savannah Clayton and Talyn Ables, both from Snook Christian Academy, and Jacob Hubbard from Mount Dora Christian Academy, who were each recognized with the Howard Todd Servant Leadership Scholarship award. These scholarships to York University, which include one full-tuition scholarship, are given annually to the PLI students who demonstrate leadership and character.
Ten York University students served as mentors throughout the week of PLI: Peyton Albers, Rebekah Baker, Nora Chapman, Alexis Gibbons, Jayden Miles, Sidney Richie, Macey Truitt, Andrew Van Gomple, Darby Wright, and Mason Yarbrough. The NCSA schools represented were Clarksville Christian Academy (Clarksville, Tenn.), Foundation Christian Academy (Bowling Green, Ky.), Mount Dora Christian Academy (Mt. Dora, Fla.), Snook Christian Academy (Foley, Ala.), Alabama Christian Academy (Montgomery, Ala.), and Redlands College (Brisbane, Australia).