Kentucky students, grades 9-12, are eligible to apply for the Young Leaders Academy, a summer residential leadership conference at the University of Louisville. The McConnell Center offers this annual program to outstanding high school students to help hone their leadership skills and further their understanding of American history.

Applications are due May 15.

The theme of this year's conference, "Roots of U.S.," will explore five cities and how their influence became part of the American tradition.

Conference topics include:

• Getting at the ‘Root of the Matter,' an examination of primary source documents
• Rooted in Religion: The Pilgrimage to America, a study of ancient Jerusalem’s Judeo-Christian influence on law and responsibility
• Taking Root in the Republic, an inquiry into the influence of the ancient Greeks on the American Republic
• Rooted in Rome, an examination of ancient Rome’s influence on culture and liberty
• Sowing the Seeds of Enlightenment, London’s legacy on American thought and tradition
• Rooting Out the Rebellion, a look into the American Revolution and Philadelphia’s role in the drafting of America’s founding documents
• Gotham City: Roots of Disorder, exploring how the seeds of injustice took root in a fictional city
• Rooting for the Home Team, how baseball, football and basketball shaped new American traditions

Participants will stay at the University of Louisville under the guidance of McConnell Center staff and university honors students. Participants will take part in a series of seminars, discussions, lectures, team-building activities and structured socials during their four-day stay.

Sessions will be led by faculty, staff and students of the University of Louisville and other area institutions and will be conducted at or near an entry level college experience.

Each participant will receive a scholarship for the Young Leaders Academy that includes free lodging, meals and all conference materials.

“This will be a tremendous educational experience, but it is also a terrific opportunity for those who might be interested in being considered for McConnell Scholarships to the University of Louisville,” said Gary Gregg, director of the McConnell Center.