Summer Youth Academy

The Office of Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe is pleased to announce 2026 Summer Youth Academy (Academy) session for high school students who will be seniors in the 2026-2027 school year. The Academy will bring together ten rising seniors to engage with local government and advocate for solutions to community issues. The Academy will begin on Monday, June 15, 2026, and conclude on Friday, June 26, 2026.

During this two-week program, students will be divided into two teams and tasked with addressing a local county issue. Students will develop viable solutions, drafting a mock board letter, formulating a communications strategy, and designing a community engagement plan. These efforts will culminate in a formal presentation to Supervisor Montgomery Steppe. Families and teachers are invited to attend.

Students will collaborate with Supervisor Montgomery Steppe’s staff, gaining firsthand insight into local governance, policymaking, and community impact. Students are expected to report daily by 9:00 a.m., except for when the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will convene its public meetings on June 23, 2026, and June 24, 2026. These meetings consist of a legislative session and a land use session. Students must arrive by 8:30 a.m. on these dates to ensure they are prepared for the Board of Supervisors' meeting, which begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. The Academy will end each day at 3pm.

Application Details:

Applications are due by 5:00PM on Friday, April 17, 2026.
Selected students will be notified by Friday, May 1, 2026.
The Summer Academy will be held at the County Administration Center (1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101).
Lunch will be provided each day throughout the Summer Academy.

Note: This is a lengthy application and does not save your answers. We recommend saving the questions, writing your answers in a Word document, and copying and pasting them into the application when you are ready to submit. If you have any questions about the application, please reach out to Lisa Christensen at Lisa.Christensen@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-531-5872.

Student Information

First & Last Name

Race/Ethnicity

Phone Number

What is the best way to contact you? * Phone call Email Text message

Parent/Guardian Contact Information

First & Last Name

Relation to you

Phone Number

Academic Information

Which high school do you attend?

What is your GPA?

What is your anticipated high school graduation year? *

Short Essay/Questionnaire

The following questions are designed to help us learn more about you—there are no right or wrong answers. Please respond authentically, sharing your experiences and qualifications. For each of the three questions below, answer and explain why the Summer Youth Academy should select you as a participant. The selection committee observes these personal statements carefully, so answer all three questions thoughtfully. (250 word limit)

Why are you interested in the Academy, and how does it align with your goals?

What are your public service interests, and how have you engaged with your community?

Please describe a time when you had to use your leadership, teamwork, and/or critical thinking skills to achieve a goal.

Are you a participant in any of the following organizations? If not, please select 'No Program Affiliation'. *

How did you hear about our program? *

If accepted to the Academy, are you available to attend the full two weeks, from June 15 through June 26, 2026 from 8:30am to 3pm (except for the Juneteenth Federal Holiday on June 19th)? * Yes No Unsure

Please share any additional brief comments or information you want the selection committee to know.

Contact Us

County Administration Center
1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335
San Diego, CA 92101

Phone:
619.531.5544

Email:
Monica.MontgomerySteppe@sdcounty.ca.gov

Summer Youth Academy

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