The Fred Saigh Leadership Academy, beginning in fall 2004, broadens student horizons beyond the classroom through new and unique community-related opportunities. Students looking to join the program can apply online. Teachers must also nominate their students using this form. Check our main applications page for updated deadlines.

Approximately 20 high school students who show leadership potential participate in a year of training. The curriculum introduces, fosters and develops leadership skills through involving students in issues that face the community. At the completion of the program, the students return to their respective schools equipped to campaign for school offices, manage school projects and assume leadership positions.

The selected students take one day each month to visit and explore key sites/locations and meet leaders throughout the metropolitan area. The program exposes the students to the institutions that make our community vital and effective in meeting the needs of its citizens. Examples include a visit to the St. Louis County Executive’s Office, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri. To get a fuller sense of what activities the program involves, you can take a look at this year’s schedule of activities.

2022–2023 Leadership Academy class at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Chase Acosta
Maplewood Richmond Heights High School
Maplewood School District
Teacher Amy Bryant

Kathryn Anzilotti
Clayton High School
Clayton School District
Teacher Jenny Wand

Jonathan Becker
Eureka High School
Rockwood School District
Teacher John Deavers

Elle Bryant
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue School District
Teacher Angela Kraft

Kevin Doan
Hazelwood West High School
Hazelwood School District
Teacher Katie Walters

Frank Guinta
Affton High School
Affton School District
Teacher Sara Werner

Larz Hillam
Eureka High School
Rockwood School District
Teacher Wilbur Laulo

Vivian Lang
Affton High School
Affton School District
Teacher Amber Burgdorf

Erik Marx
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue School District
Teacher Alexis Ahrens

Kellie McGee
Brentwood High School
Brentwood School District
Teacher Jessica O’Brien

Evan Pulliam
Lindbergh High School
Lindbergh School District
Teacher Cyndra Franquemont

Jacob Rochleau
Kirkwood High School
Kirkwood School District
Teacher Nicolya Thomas

Destiny Taylor
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue School District
Teacher Anthony Albers

Carson Wheeler
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue School District
Teacher Kerry Bennett

Harrison Beck
Parkway West High School
Parkway School District
Teacher Zach Jodlowski

Sara Brooks
Bayless High School
Bayless School District
Teacher Amy Roessler

Laila El-Sayed
Clayton High School
Clayton School District
Teacher Karen Francis

Madeline Feltz
Parkway West High School
Parkway School District
Teacher Kelsey Flachs

Ava Giles
Lindbergh High School
Lindbergh School District
Teacher Cyndy Vincent

Kenyan Gordon
Pattonville High School
Pattonville School District
Teacher Ashly Haar

Jeremy Gipson
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue School District
Teacher Daniel Fortune

Tahtyona Hardin
Hancock High School
Hancock School District
Teacher Alexis Bell-Hensley

Anna Jones
Brentwood High School
Brentwood School District
Teacher Erin Wallace

Kyla Kobielusz
Pattonville High School
Pattonville School District
Teacher Ian Doig

Sophia Lee
Brentwood High School
Brentwood School District
Teacher Erin Wallace

Jeramel Meeks
Hazelwood Central
Hazelwood School District
Teacher Mary Cavanaugh

John O’Connell
Pattonville High School
Pattonville School District
Teacher Ashley Haar

Drew Scognamiglio
Marquette High School
Rockwood School District
Teacher Dr. Holly Hick

Nicholas Scognamiglio
Marquette High School
Rockwood School District
Teacher Dr. Holly Hick

Richard Tienter
Marquette High School
Rockwood School District
Teacher Laura Beckhard

Catherine Bellido
Parkway West High School
Teacher Zachary Jodlowski

Ryan Boyd
Bayless High School
Teacher Lauren Harrison
and
South Technical High School
Teacher Paul Heumann

Nolan Cobbs
Pattonville High School
Teacher Ashley Haar

Caleb Efken
Bayless High School
Teacher Amy Roessler

Fred Hagaman
South Technical High School
and Parkway West High School
Teacher Paul Heumann

Grace Hammon
Hancock High School
Teacher Matt Mattingly

Rameah Harris
Maplewood Richmond Heights
High School
and South Technical High School
Teacher Erin Stone

Damonii Hemphill
Bayless High School
Teacher Lauren Harrison

Jaxon Luraschi
Pattonville High School
and North Technical High School
Teacher Julie Kobielusz

John “Jack” Rothkopf
Pattonville High School
Teacher Ashley Haar

Charles Quigless III
Clayton High School
Teacher Adrian Kuehn

Kevin Woods
Maplewood Richmond Heights
High School
Teacher Melissa Barger

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