For many high school students, the path to college can feel like a maze—both thrilling and overwhelming, filled with exciting possibilities and real pressure. To help chart that course with confidence and clarity, 21 juniors from Chaminade Julienne were selected to take part in a unique and transformative opportunity: the Aileron Student Leadership Summit.
Held May 27–29 at the Aileron Training Facility in Tipp City, the summit brought together high-achieving students—typically ranked in the top 10–20% of their class—from CJ, Northmont, and Wayne High Schools. Designed to inspire purpose-driven leadership and strategic college preparation, the experience challenged students to think boldly about their future, refine their leadership potential, and envision the impact they want to make on the world.
“At this work-intensive summit, our students actively engaged in discussions, seminars, and writing workshops over the three days during their first week of summer break,” said Andy Taube, CJ’s college and career counselor. “There, they received leadership training from Aileron professionals, who typically coach CEOs and business leaders, college admissions preparation, and the opportunity to network with professionals in various fields.”
The selection process for the leader summit was competitive, with applicants needing a GPA of 4.1 or higher. The 20 students were chosen based on their responses to an application’s two short essays and a complete list of high school activities, following specific guidelines designed to prepare applicants for the Common App, a college application website used by many colleges and universities. The students’ applications were reviewed and rated by a panel of three CJ faculty members.
“I felt much relief being chosen for the Aileron Student Leadership Summit,” said Ruby Perez-Mendiola ‘26. “I have no one at home to guide me through the college process, and leadership is a skill that I always strive to improve upon.”
According to Taube, the Aileron Student Leadership Summit allowed these students to participate in leadership development workshops with Wendy Roop, the leadership coach and facilitator at Aileron. They attend college admissions roadmap sessions, and craft a college essay with one-on-one support from English teachers and a college admissions specialist.
Virtual college information sessions and networking opportunities were provided with professionals in medical, law, engineering, journalism, finance, and more. Recent CJ alumni from the classes of 2024 and 2025, who were previous attendees of this summit, served on student panels and provided guidance and tips on scholarships, college life, and resume-building.
Perez-Mendiola enjoyed networking the most at the leadership summit.
“Meeting new people is something I love doing, and I’m always interested in learning about different fields and people. It was a great opportunity to explore and consider jobs from a casual conversation with a professional,” she said.
Participants walked away from the summit with a well-developed college essay draft, peer and professional feedback on their academic resumes, and activity lists. They were also introduced to methods to develop strong leadership and networking skills, a deeper understanding of the college admission process, and practical insights on managing the stress of applying to colleges.
“The summit was very helpful, especially since I’m the first in my immediate family to apply for college,” said Perez-Mendiola. “Everyone was absolutely lovely, and it was overall a great time! My biggest takeaway was to keep pushing even when things get hard, whether by continuing to write the best essay I can or by maintaining a positive outlook on leadership.”
The Aileron Student Leadership Summit is a great opportunity for high-achieving students to take their hard work and talents to the next level.
“Each student’s path is unique, and I try to support each student wherever they are in their journey,” said Taube. “These students have already shown exceptional dedication, and this program is designed to help them navigate the complex world of highly selective colleges, competitive scholarships, and specialized careers.
“More than anything, Aileron gives the invited students the space to grow as leaders, reflect on their strengths, and begin shaping what they want their future to look like.”