Lehigh University Iacocca Institute Iacocca Global Future Leaders Lab: Silicon Valley

You're taught by three Lehigh staff with doctorates, two of them from LehighWest, the university's San Francisco base. Dr. Samantha Dewalt, managing director of LehighWest, has a PhD in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University and more than 18 years of leading innovation in entrepreneurial settings. Dr. Willy Das, a senior research scientist at LehighWest, teaches entrepreneurship and business strategy and works with startups and policymakers.

Dr. Carrie Duncan, program director at the Lee Iacocca Institute for Global Leadership, is a trained archaeologist who teaches global studies and systems leadership and designs Lehigh's immersive leadership programs for high school and college students. Lehigh also mentions founders and industry leaders as guides during the week, but doesn't name them or publish a class size.

You need to be 15 to 17 during the program itself, 20 to 25 June 2027, and Lehigh aims it at motivated high school students. Beyond the age rule, selection rests on your application, and the video prompt spells out what Lehigh is looking for: what you'd bring that others wouldn't, your leadership potential, your curiosity and commitment, and real examples of initiative, problem-solving or impact. Lehigh says the more specific your reasons for wanting to come, the better.

Lehigh doesn't publish how many students it takes or what share of applicants get in.

The program costs $3,250, which covers your housing in downtown San Francisco and your meals, served by the housing provider's dining service and local restaurants that Lehigh caters from. Lehigh doesn't say whether getting to and from San Francisco is included, so check that before you budget.

There's a small pool of need-based financial help, but only for students who apply by the 31 January 2027 priority deadline. You ask for it by answering yes to the financial assistance question on the application and giving the financial details requested. Lehigh decides admission separately from aid, and says that in virtually all cases any funding covers only part of the fee.

Lehigh University residential staff supervise you in program housing in downtown San Francisco, and the group travels together at all times. Rooms are doubles, two to a four-bed suite, and each suite is single-sex with its own shared bathroom, inside co-ed dorms.

Parents and friends can visit only at designated times, although the program director can make exceptions for illness or a family emergency. Medical and religious dietary needs are accommodated if you tell the staff clearly, and preferences are met where possible. Bring comfortable walking shoes, since Lehigh's West Coast Hub is a 40-minute walk or 15-minute transit ride from the housing, and Lehigh makes arrangements for students with limited mobility.

Lehigh says you leave with a leadership certificate, a project you built during the week and mentors in a position to write you recommendations. The certificate isn't college credit. Lehigh's leadership institute describes these as assets for college applications, but it doesn't say how any admissions office, including Lehigh's own, weighs them.

The more practical gains are the pitching, storytelling and presentation practice that the week is built around, and a recommender who has seen you work at close range.

You apply through Lehigh's online application form.

1. 1

   Start the form with your personal details and date of birth, using a personal email address rather than your school one.

2. 2

   Name one teacher or school counselor who has agreed to recommend you and give their school email, and Lehigh will contact them directly.

3. 3

   Upload your unofficial school transcript and an extracurricular résumé saved as a PDF.

4. 4

   Record a 90-second video covering who you are, why you want to take part and why Lehigh should choose you, and share it as a link anyone can open.

5. 5

   Submit everything by 31 January 2027 for priority consideration.

6. 6

   Make sure your recommender's letter is in by 15 February 2027.

7. 7

   After 31 January, Lehigh keeps admitting on a rolling basis until places fill, then puts qualified applicants on a waitlist.