Lott Leadership Institute

About the Lott Leadership Institute for Rising 12th Graders

Since the Lott Leadership Institute for Rising 12th Graders was initiated in the summer of 2000 at the University of Mississippi, hundreds of students from across the across the world have expressed enthusiasm for the life-altering experience of participating in the Lott Leadership Institute for Rising 12th Graders. 

The Lott Leadership Institute for Rising 12th Graders is a partnership between the University of Mississippi’s Lott Leadership Institute and the Division of Outreach’s Summer College for High School Students. The goals of the program are to develop leadership skills in young citizens and prepare them for college. In order to achieve these goals, the Lott Leadership Institute for Rising 12th Graders brings together student leaders from across the world to earn college credit on the UM campus and to begin the study of leadership. 

Included in the program are opportunities to mingle with college administrators, student leaders, and community professionals while participating in current event discussions, and decision-making activities. The program culminates in a carefully curated visit to Washington, D.C. On this trip, participants meet with their elected officials, sample the cultural life of the nation's capital, and network with D.C. professionals working in both for-profit and non-profit worlds. The ideal outcome is for students completing the program to put their new skills to work for the betterment of their communities.

Note for Summer 2025 Washington, D.C. Trip: Details will be shared during orientation.