The High School Leadership Academy (HSLA) is led by the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the West Des Moines Community School District. HSLA allows students in West Des Moines the opportunity to expand their leadership skills.
The vision of HSLA is to help West Des Moines students build the skills and confidence to take on whatever comes next. Through hands-on experiences, expert speakers, and real-world training, students gain the tools to lead, collaborate, and stand out in their school, work, and community.
Students will be selected for this FREE opportunity through a nomination process. Students in grades
9-12 are able to nominate themselves or be nominated by teachers, staff, parents, or peers. Each submitted nomination will be carefully considered, leading to a selected class of 30 students to participate in the annual High School Leadership Academy.
Nomination Timeline for 2027 Class:
HSLA runs from January-April, with 1 school-day of programming each month. Along with the opportunity to speak with professionals, visit local companies, and improve leadership, student will also tackle a real problem through a group community impact project. At the final session, they will present their project to a panel of judges.
2027 HSLA Timeline:
Congratulations to the 28 students that were accepted into the 2026 second annual High School Leadership Academy class!
The 4-day HSLA program consisted of…
Over three months, student groups tackled a real problem facing our community by planning, designing, and presenting a proposed solution.
If you are interested in supporting HSLA as a presenting, supporting, or scholarship Sponsor, please reach out to the WDM Chamber Team.
