The Clinton Center’s Student Presidential Leaders Series is for high school students who want to develop their leadership potential and join a network of peers who share a passion for creating change. Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are open. We invite Arkansas high school students who are interested in this year-long program to apply by May 10.
Watch the video to hear from current participants, and scroll down to see more information.
ABOUT
The Clinton Presidential Center’s Student Presidential Leaders Series (SPLS) engages high school students to develop their leadership skills, explore the importance of inclusivity and civic participation, and learn how to turn their knowledge into action. SPLS helps students build their capacity to be leaders today and in the future.
We will select 60 high school students (rising 9th through 12th grades) with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives and a shared passion for making change to join the 2026-2027 SPLS cohort. Through a year of in-person and virtual sessions, participants will connect with their peers from across the state, engage with established leaders, and learn how to make a meaningful difference.
Designed with accessibility and long-term impact in mind, the Clinton Foundation offers the SPLS program at no cost to participants with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York.
🙋Learn essential leadership skills, including effective communication, navigating difficult conversations, advocating for a cause, media literacy, allyship, problem solving, and amplifying theirs and other voices.
✊ Join a peer network of future leaders and develop a shared passion for creating equitable, inclusive change.
💡 Learn how to turn ideas into action by identifying, developing, and implementing solutions to challenges.
🗳️ Cultivate a commitment to being an active citizen, engaging in community service, and improving the world around them.
2026-2027 Session Information
July 17 – 19, 2026 (In person at the Clinton Presidential Center)
Friday, July 17, noon– 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 18, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 19, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Student Presidential Leaders Series’ in-person retreat provides students with the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow as leaders in a safe space that empowers them to identify issues and develop skills for collective impact.
Participants will build new relationships with others from across the state, creating a network passionate about and committed to leading change in schools, communities, and beyond. Through facilitated dialogue, organic discussions, and hands-on activities with established and emerging leaders, participants will learn to look within themselves and toward each other to lead positive, equitable change in their communities. The retreat will also include a service project in the community.
August 2026 – March 2027 Third Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted (Virtual)
Monthly virtual sessions will expand on the skills introduced during the retreat through activities and conversations with established leaders and near-peer change-makers.
Topics will include:
📺 Media Literacy: how to find truth in the noise
⚡ Advocacy Training: How to make a case for your cause
✅ Service Project Development: How to turn ideas into action
🎤 Public Speaking: How to communicate your ideas
🤝 Community Building: How to organize and create a sense of belonging
Saturday, November 14, 2026
10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. (In person)
This in-person session will bring students back together to workshop their community action plans and practice skill strengthening.
Saturday, April 17, 2027
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (In person)
The Student Presidential Leaders cohort will come together one last time for this final session. Students will reflect on what they learned, present their community action plans, and celebrate the year.
I’ve learned how I can make change in my community and how I can use the resources that I have to address the needs of those around me.
Aubrey Scherer, 2025 Student Presidential Leader
Making an Impact
The Clinton Center’s Student Presidential Leaders Series brings together high school students and engages them to develop their leadership skills, explore the importance of inclusivity and civic participation, and learn how to turn their knowledge into action.
