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Student Orientation
Student Leadership Exercise
First Round of Interviews
Finalist Interviews
Awards Ceremony
Student Leadership Awards Program - FAQ's
OVERVIEW OF EVENTS
The Student Leadership Awards Program, sponsored by The Irvine Company, was
created as a way to identify and encourage local high school seniors with the
skills, character and energy to become future leaders. The program recognizes
seniors who have demonstrated strong, distinguished leadership skills in their
school activities and in their communities.
The scholarship is open to all college-bound high school seniors who will
be eligible for graduation in June of their senior year from the following
schools:
- Beckman High School
- Canyon High School
- Corona del Mar High School
- Costa Mesa High School
- El Modena High School
- Estancia High School
- Foothill High School
- Irvine High School
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- Laguna Beach High School
- Newport Harbor School
- Northwood High School
- Orange High School
- Tustin High School
- University High School
- Villa Park High School
- Woodbridge High School
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One young man and one young woman from each high school are selected to
represent their school and compete against other applicants. Each of the
thirty-two leaders receives $2,500 in college scholarship funds. Following
the exercise and first round of interviews, eight semi-finalists are selected
and each receive an additional $2,500. The final interview determines the
four finalists who each receive an additional $5,000, for a total of $10,000
in scholarship funds.
STUDENT ORIENTATION
The orientation is an opportunity to get to know the students and for
them to get to know the other student leaders. They also learn more
about The Irvine Company and the Student Leadership Awards Program.
Each student is given a summary of the upcoming exercise, and
receives a presentation on community planning by one of the company's
planning executives. Details about the exercise are also reviewed and they receive the role
they will assume for the exercise. The one-page essay, which is read by
the judges for the interview process, is due the day of the leadership
exercise.
Following the informational portion of orientation, each student introduces
a fellow student on video, which is shown during the Awards Ceremony. A "coach"
provides them with tips on how to speak on-camera. Before they leave,
several photographs are taken for use in advertisements and the
Awards Night program.
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STUDENT LEADERSHIP EXERCISE
The leadership exercise accounts for 25% of the final criteria for judging,
and is designed to provide the judges with an understanding of each student's
leadership skills when compared to others in their planning group.
Exercise Itinerary
- Two hours are allotted for each team to meet, review the existing land use plan, brainstorm, develop a revised land use plan and prepare their presentation for the Board of Supervisors (judges).
- Before planning begins, each team member will quickly review the land uses included in the existing plan, and will identify the plan’s strengths and weaknesses. Each team member will then take no more than five minutes to roughly develop a plan that meets the individual objectives of the role they have assumed. The students do not need to feel constrained by the existing plan. They may add land uses and remove land uses, and move them around according to the objectives important to the role they assume. Once each team member has formulated an individual plan, the entire team will then come together. They will have approximately two hours to develop one plan that will be presented to the Supervisors.
- Each team will be allocated 30 minutes for their presentation — 25 minutes are to be used to present the team’s plan to the Board. The developer is seeking approval of the new land use plan and needs to convince the Board of the benefits of the revised plan. Every member of the team may or may not agree with the proposed plan. If they do not, it will be up to that member to voice their opinion during the presentation to the Board. Following each presentation, team members will have five minutes to answer questions asked by the Board and audience. Each student on the team will be asked at least one question.
- Following all four presentations, 15 minutes will be spent discussing and evaluating the exercise.
Exercise Overview
The students received the role they will assume during the exercise at the
orientation. However, they won't find out who their teammates are until
the day of the exercise. The eight roles are as follows:
- Developer
- County Land Planner
- Acorn County Business Council Representative
- Environmental Activist
- PTA President & Education Advocate
- Social Services Advocate
- Outdoor Enthusiast
- Water Quality Specialist
Each of the four judges at the Student Leadership Exercise will be given
two roles. During the first part of the afternoon, in the planning phase,
the judges will act as a consultant to one of four planning teams.
During the presentation to the Board of Supervisors, the four judges will
take on the role as a member of the Board.
The role of the planning consultant is to guide and assist the team to
develop their revised land use plan. They will also work with the team
as they prepare their presentation that will convince the Board of
Supervisors to approve their plan.
At the orientation, each student was given the previously approved
plan they will be revising, along with a blank map of the 620-acre area.
They were instructed to review the plan and roughly design a revised plan
that meets the objectives of their role. Once they arrive at the exercise
and their teams are formed, each team will be given maps and large
presentation pads that they may use in planning and in presenting.
The students are allowed to ask questions during the planning phase.
The students are to have done their research beforehand. Judges
may help trigger and generate thoughts, but it is critical that the
students formulate their own analyses and deliberations as a team.
Each judge will rate their team members on their leadership skills,
ability to listen and communicate, interact with the other team members,
how they portray their role’s objectives, and how they persuade and
compromise with the other committee members.
During the presentations, the judges will hear each student's spontaneous
and thoughtful responses to the complex issue of comprehensive master planning.
They will rate each individual on his or her leadership skills, ability to
listen, communicate, interact, persuade, integrate, and present their
information in a well thought-out manner. The judges are only scoring
those students who were not on their planning team.
Exercise Scoring/Judging Criteria
This exercise counts a maximum of 25 out of 100 points a student can
receive in the Student Leadership Awards competition. Twenty points will
be based on their performance during the planning phase and the remaining
five points on their performance during the presentation.
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FIRST ROUND OF INTERVIEWS
Students are notified of the time of their interview at the orientation.
Each student has a 20-minute interview with a panel of community judges.
The judges ask questions about personal interests, the types of leadership
responsibilities the students have in school and the community, and what
their plans are for the future. The judges read their application and personal
profile for background information, along with their essay, prior to the
interview.
The interview accounts for 50% of the final criteria for judging.
To determine the eight semi-finalists, each of the students is evaluated
using the following criteria:
- 25% is based on individual performance in the leadership exercise
- 25% is based on the initial scholarship application, community participation and accomplishments
- 50% is based on the interview and personal essay submitted at the leadership exercise.
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FINALIST INTERVIEWS
To determine the four finalists, the eight semi-finalists participate in a
second 30-minute interview with another panel of judges.
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AWARDS CEREMONY
The highlight of the Student Leadership Awards Program honors each
student leader recipient at the Awards Ceremony in May. The ceremony
is an opportunity for family, community leaders, school officials and
guests to join together and celebrate their accomplishments.
The four finalists are formally introduced and all scholarships are awarded.
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