During the week in July students participated in skill-building activities focused on leadership. Through the activities and a series of hands-on experiences, they were encouraged to use their newly developed skills in a group setting. The purpose of the camp is to help students discover that leadership is more than a position or authority, but a matter of action.

For more than four decades, Shell has sponsored the Louisiana Youth Seminar (LYS) to promote education and promote leadership in a way that benefits the community and develops Shell’s future workforce. Shell’s support helps to keep LYS affordable for future high school leaders.

“In order to achieve your dreams, you must make a specific plan to achieve them. LYS taught me that I can achieve anything I want to in life,” said Henry Morse from the Willow School in New Orleans. “I learned that I not only am a leader but that I want to be a leader for the rest of my life.”

The program is available to students in areas where Shell operates in southern Louisiana including Port Allen, Geismar, Convent, Norco and New Orleans.

About LYS:

The Louisiana Youth Seminar was established in 1971 as a summer leadership camp for high school students. Every year the Seminar is held at Louisiana State University for one week in July. During this week, students participate in many activities which focus on leadership skills, such as effective communication skills, setting and achieving goals, team building, understanding and accepting others, developing self-confidence, conducting effective meetings and problem-solving skills.

LYS enhances the leadership potential in each individual and provides leadership opportunities through hands-on experience. We welcome all high school incoming juniors and seniors (and sophomores who are up to the challenge) throughout Louisiana. Students come to LYS via a variety of ways: selected by their schools, sent by their parents, recruited by past LYS participants or staff and by LYS friends and family.

LYS is organized, staffed and directed by young professionals and college students who volunteer their time every summer. LYS is different because it focuses on leadership skills, it is open to all potential leaders, and because it recruits a diverse group of students. LYS has impacted over 10,000 young leaders over the past 52 years. LYS was founded by Barbara Jo Pease, who had a 30-year career at Shell and is retired.

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