The Leadership Institute

4/22/2025

Applications Open Fall 2025

Become an SVA Leadership Fellow. This premier student leadership experience brings together our country’s top chapter leaders through an immersive experience designed to equip tomorrow’s leaders to serve and create a lasting community of impact.

Unlock Your Leadership Potential at The Leadership Institute

Previous classes of the Student Veterans of America® (SVA) Leadership Institute represent a wide diversity of backgrounds and experiences. In general, SVA is looking for the following three core strengths in each attendee:

Growth Mindset: You’re a dedicated life-long learner who recognizes the need to sharpen skills not only in leadership but all aspects of life.
Humility: You’re receptive to discussing and adopting new concepts and leadership philosophies, even when they may challenge your own.
Collaborative: You believe strongly in working as a member of a team and adopting a mentality that is conducive to collaboration and sharing of responsibility.

The Leadership Institute is open to all chapter leaders currently enrolled or those who have recently graduated. Any virtual Leadership Institute attendees are welcomed to apply for this year’s event.

If selected* Student Veterans of America will fly you to Washington, D.C. to attend this immersive leadership experience to develop your core values and hone leadership skills. The application process is competitive; you will leave this experience with the tools needed to better serve others, a lasting network to support you, and an expectation to grow your impact on your campus, in your community, and for your country.

TRAINING

Our Leadership Institute curriculum is designed to better equip you to serve and create a lasting community of impact.

ENGAGEMENT

Attend virtual discussions and team building activities with your mentors and leaders in business, nonprofit, and advocacy.

MENTORSHIP

You will be coached directly by SVA Alumni mentors in groups of 10 on leadership behavior, personal branding, fostering relationships, and driving impact.

ADVOCACY

SVA’s National Headquarters Staff will coach attendees on the latest developments in national policy and advocacy for student veterans, supporters, and allies.

Build Your Leadership Ethos and Vision for Impact

What You Will Learn

PURPOSE

Create a defined personal leadership vision to directly support the “why” behind that ethos.

IMPLEMENTATION

Develop a strategic action plan to see your vision come to fruition.

COMMUNITY

Join an established support and follow-up network with your fellow chapter leaders, facilitators, and mentors.

How to Apply

1. Login to MySVA

The Leadership Institute applications are available only through the MySVA portal. Login or create an account.

2. Submit a Video

Share what motivates your service to others, and what makes you a good fit for the Leadership Institute in one minute or less—see below for additional details. Make sure your video submission is complete as it is a part of the application process. Please follow these instructions for your Leadership Institute application video submission.

A 60-second video is required with all applications. Submissions should demonstrate your potential to both contribute to the experience, as well as benefit from it. Video submissions do not need to be professionally produced, but they should be professional in nature, and speak to your personal narrative. Watch example 1 and example 2 for additional guidance and download instructions here. Please include the hashtag #SVALeads

3. Complete the Application

Take a few moments to detail your background, educational goals, and leadership interests.

4. Selection Process

Final acceptance decisions will be made by an SVA committee approximately one month before the event. All applicants will be notified.
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