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.
Nominations are open now until November 7, 2025 for the 2026 High School Leadership Academy class!
Students will be selected for this FREE opportunity through a nomination process. Students in grades 9-11 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. Nominations are currently open for the 2026 HSLA class. See a timeline below to get a taste of what HSLA will look like for this next year’s class!
Congratulations to the 31 students that were accepted into the inaugural class of the 2025 High School Leadership Academy class! With almost 50 nominations, it was clear to us that our students are already leaders making the future bright. We cannot wait for what is ahead!
The one-day HSLA workshop consisted of…
Check out the photo album below to get a further look into HSLA.
If you are interested in supporting HSLA as a Presenting or Supporting Sponsor, please reach out to the WDM Chamber Team. If you’re interested in being a $650 Scholarship Sponsor, you can sign up here.
