New application and nomination forms for 2010
WDMLA's new application and nomination forms can be submitted via mail or electronically. Nominate someone or apply for WDMLA today!
Academy Class Projects
Every class in the West Des Moines Leadership Academy is expected to develop and execute a class project, with leadership and a timeline coming directly from the class. The Board of Directors will discuss the project with the class at the initial orientation.
The inaugural Class of 2009 chose to create a program geared towards youth called "Building Leaders." Building Leaders is a local educational program designed to provide youth with opportunities they might not have otherwise. Approximately four events per year will be held from one of the four areas of opportunity: education, culture, sports or the arts. As of September 2009 this has included:
- 30 West Des Moines youth attended a production of Sideways Stories from Wayside School at the Des Moines Playhouse. The group was able to have lunch and get to know the cast and crew before the show. After the show, some of the kids had the opportunity to recreate a scene from the play including special effects, lights and sound.
- Kids got a chance to build and ride in a float at the annual West Des Moines Fourth of July parade. Children helped build, paint and assemble the float.
- 17 kids attended an I-Cubs game on Labor Day and, thanks to the generosity of several sponsors, enjoyed the ball game from a skybox suite and participated in several activities including the hot dog gun, T-shirt gun, the B-Bops burger race and a pitching game.
