High School Leadership Academy – West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce

What is HSLA?

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.

HSLA 2025

Congratulations to the 31 students that were accepted into the inaugural class of the High School Leadership Academy! 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…

Dr. Joseph Jones, Chief of Staff at Des Moines University, giving a keynote speech on resiliency
A panel of professionals that gave information about the multitude of career opportunities available to students
Lunch while networking with young professionals in the community
Case Study Competition focused on professional communication

Check out the photo album below to get a further look into HSLA.

What's next for HSLA?

In 2026, the High School Leadership Academy will expand its programming to launch a full Academy schedule. Students will engage in four full days of learning to amplify the impact this program can have. Students will go off-campus to learn from business leaders in the community, receive free professional headshots, and dive deeper into learning about what leadership looks like.

Student Nominations

Students will be selected for this opportunity through a nomination process. Students are able to nominate themselves for HSLA or teachers, parents, and staff can submit a nomination on behalf of an unlimited number of students. 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 for the 2026 HSLA Class will open in Fall of 2025. Stay tuned!

Who makes HSLA possible?

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 $500 Scholarship Sponsor, you can sign up here.