Leadership Academy Set To Encourage And Educate Teens In Galloway

GALLOWAY, NJ — The all-volunteer non-profit leadership development program "TORCH Leadership Academy" will be right around the corner at Stockton University this summer for another year of equipping young minds with the skills and experiences necessary for personal growth and leadership success.

TORCH Leadership Academy's mission is "to develop and empower leaders through meaningful connections and transformative experiences." Since its inception in 2020, managed by individuals with extensive leadership development experience since 1995, TORCH has been dedicated to providing transformative leadership training to high school students from diverse backgrounds, the academy shared in a news release.

It has a particular focus on providing resources to those who have historically been excluded from such spaces.

"Through its comprehensive curriculum, participants gain invaluable insights into their own leadership styles, learn how to communicate effectively, develop essential problem-solving skills, gain the confidence to pursue their dreams, and connect with mentors and fellow leaders that will provide invaluable networking opportunities for the years ahead," the release said.

The program places a strong emphasis on experiential learning. "TORCH offers its participants hands-on experiences that are hard to come by in a traditional classroom setting, such as networking with business leaders and participating in team-building activities," according to the release. "These experiences not only help build essential leadership skills, but also provide a foundation for personal growth and development that will further benefit student leaders as they go on to change the world."

Alumna and now advisor to TORCH Leadership Academy Nina Gohel used the skills she learned there to become Vice-President of the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) which represents 40,000 undergraduate students and is responsible for a multi-million dollar budget. In this role, Gohel was able to provide $16,000 in funding from the Assembly for TORCH. This investment will not only create long-lasting returns with leaders training leaders, but also fulfills Rutgers' mission of helping New Jersey as a whole.

TORCH President Bryan O'Donnell said that without this critical funding, TORCH would not have been able to fulfill its mission and host its signature leadership academy.

"At TORCH, we believe that leadership is not just about titles and positions, but about character
and service," Gohel said. "Our program is designed to help young leaders realize their potential, find their voice, and make a positive impact in their communities and beyond. This is why I was more than willing to find resources from partner institutions to ensure future students benefit from the same excellent programs I was fortunate enough to have experienced."

The next TORCH Annual Conference will be held on July 22 through July 25 2023 at Stockton University for high school students across NJ. This program is brought in partnership with local organizations and led by college students and young professional volunteers.

Applications are now open and you can apply by visiting apply.torchleadershipacademy.org.

The TORCH Leadership Academy has received accolades from students, parents, and educators alike for its commitment to excellence, its engaging curriculum, and its ability to transform the lives of its participants. For more information about TORCH and its programs, visit https://torchleadershipacademy.org/.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to support their efforts here.