High School Education
In partnership with Notre Dame’s Office of Pre-College Programs, and with the support of a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Center is hosting an intensive Leadership Seminar for rising high school seniors in Summers 2026, 2027, and 2028—and possibly beyond.
Taking place July 18–29, 2026 on Notre Dame’s campus, the first iteration of the Leadership Seminar is entitled “The American Experiment: Liberty for All?”
Abraham Lincoln famously called “liberty to all” (the central principle of the Declaration of Independence) the “apple of gold” at the heart of the American experiment in self-government. Was he right? Or were America’s core principles actually flawed from the start? As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration, this Leadership Seminar will examine the core principles of the American founding, their development, and the extent to which they have been realized over the course of American history. Students from all perspectives are invited to engage in Socratic-style discussion and close study of primary texts by Jefferson, Madison, Tocqueville, Lincoln, Douglass, MLK, and others.
All rising high school seniors are eligible to apply for this competitive program. Tuition, housing, and meals will be covered for all accepted students.
Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2026 program. The application for the 2027 program will open in October 2026. To learn more, visit the Leadership Seminars website.