Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders
Subiendo is a five-day intensive leadership program on the University of Texas Campus open to 11th graders across the state of Texas. The academy will be held June 12th – 16th and is an opportunity for students to explore living on a University campus, as well as networking with nationally prominent community, political, and business leaders while addressing real-world challenges. The Academy is free to students and their families. The application deadline has been extended to Monday, April 18th.
This year’s Subiendo schedule will include tour of the UT campus, seminar on financial literacy, workshops on professional writing, communications development class, and etiquette dinner. Ruben Martinez, one of the students from Subiendo’s 2010-2011 class is thankful for the opportunity he has had to participate. Martinez says one of his favorite parts of the program was the etiquette dinner. “For me this experience was the most difficult, but was the best way to learn to communicate with peers in an atmosphere that everyone is not particularly used to.” Students will also participate in conversations with Texas State Legislators and will work in policy project groups with legislative staffers. “The program has helped me develop my leadership skills. I now take time out of my day to explain to fellow peers about my personal experiences in hopes that my advice will help them open their own doors to their own avenues in life,” continues Martinez.
Martinez’s father, Ruben Martinez, Sr. believes the program has had a significant positive change in his son. “It has made him mature from a teen to a young man. The program has really opened up his perspective on the many different topics the world is facing today.” Martinez, Sr. also feels Subiendo has helped his son take more initiative on his future and of others. Martinez, Sr. explains, “He was selected to go up in front of the education committee in hopes of instituting a post secondary education awareness class so that anyone that wants to continue their education can.”
The application can be found at www.SubiendoAcademy.org with more information. Students will be selected based on academic achievement, community involvement, essay questions, and recommendations.
By Monica Pena
Austin Times Staff
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