Frederick Douglass Leadership Seminar

“Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty. It means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth, the light by which men can only be made free.”

—Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a runaway slave who became one of America’s greatest orators and writers, a lifelong champion of the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and a friend of presidents. Douglass visited Hillsdale College—an anti-slavery college whose 1844 charter committed it to accept students “without regard to race, sex, or national origin”—in the midst of the Civil War. Determined not to be a victim of his circumstances, Douglass embraced education and universal natural rights. “No rights of race [are] superior to the rights of humanity,” he wrote.

At Hillsdale College, students study the great champions of freedom in American history, such as Frederick Douglass, and in the process, they discover the deep connection between a liberal arts education and the principles of civil and religious liberty.

The Frederick Douglass Leadership Seminar allows for high school students from underserved backgrounds to spend three days at Hillsdale College learning from faculty, staff, and their peers. Many of the students attending this seminar come from low income families, single parent households, or have experienced foster care.

Hillsdale College aims to give students a vision of what it looks like to overcome life’s challenges, by studying historical men and women who have stood for liberty despite their circumstances.

A full itinerary will be provided to admitted students.

Trip Highlights: include dynamic workshops and breakout sessions, time with Hillsdale College’s faculty and staff, and engaging activities designed to inspire students to become leaders in their own communities.

Cost

$100

Thanks to the support of generous donors, scholarships are available to cover nearly all costs for admitted participants. Program costs include roundtrip flights to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, transfers to and from the airport, all meals during the week, transportation to all events, housing in student dorms, all fees for workshops, and all supplemental program materials.

Students are responsible for a $100 registration fee to be paid after acceptance. For families with demonstrable need, fee waivers are available upon request.

Contact Information
Associate Director of Admissions
(509) 531-3932
Jolie Ballantyne
[email protected]