DEVELOPING OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUNG LEADERS

The Central Ohio Leadership Academy (COLA), established in 2011, is the only comprehensive leadership development experience for rising high school seniors in central Ohio. Through a competitive application process, 45 students are selected to be a part of a COLA Class that is made up of like minded peers that want to make a difference in their community and become a more impactful leader.  

Four primary philosophies create COLA's transformational culture:

• COLA students are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the leaders of today.Every COLA student is  passionate and has  the capability to be a prominent leader today, not just tomorrow.  There are examples all across the world of  young people leading and positively impacting our the world we live in. COLA individualizes its curriculum to best develop students to be the leaders they can be today with an understanding of how to be an even greater leader tomorrow.
• Leaders are not defined by a position or title, leaders are defined by the choices and positive impact they make. COLA challenge's student's to not limit or evaluate their leadership based on holding a position/role in an organization, club, or sports team. COLA emphasizes the intentional hard work and ethical decision making that is required to positively impact the lives of other and the community. 
• Anyone can lead if they control their POWER. In COLA, POWER is a loaded word that encompasses five states of being that every person can control. COLA students and alumni are expected to have control of their own POWER every day because it is then that they are able to make the greatest impact. 
• Being YOU is what makes you great.  COLA has a culture that is accepting of all students no matter their interests, passions, talents, or appearance.   COLA promotes authenticity and individuality. 

At COLA, students work with trained facilitators and experienced educators to understand their individual strengths and develop awareness about their capacity to create change and impact their community. In addition, students have the opportunity to meet and learn from some of our community's most respected leaders.

The community leaders who have participated include:

Dr. E Gordon Gee President, The Ohio State University

Robert H. Schottenstein CEO, M/I Homes

Yvette McGee Brown Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice

C. Robert Kidder Past Chairman, Chrysler Group LLC

Past Lead Director of the Board, Morgan Stanley

Dean Christine Poon Dean, Fisher College of Business

Patrick Losinski CEO, Columbus Metropolitan Library

Peyman X. Salehi Market Director - Private Banking, JP Morgan Chase Bank

Yaves Ellis CEO, Sling Shot Media Group

Public Affairs Director, Radio One

Keith Bell Former Chief Academic Office, Columbus City Schools

COLA was developed by the New Albany Community Foundation and Underwritten by JP Morgan Foundation with support from the Edwards Foundation, Christine and Jeff Rodek and Easton Community Foundation.

2012 Program sponsors:

With Support from: