Youth Leadership Summit
Join us for a transformative half-day event designed to help students and parents understand how leadership, community involvement, and entrepreneurial initiative strengthen both college applications and long-term success.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Cary
Hosted by: Empowerly, HumSub, and TiE Young Entrepreneurs
Who Should Attend?
- Students in grades 8–11
- Parents/guardians seeking clarity and strategy
- Families serious about building a strong college path
All students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of the event.
What You'll Learn
In just a few hours, you'll gain clarity and actionable insights on:
- What colleges are really looking for in student leaders
- How to build depth instead of stacking activities
- The right time to prioritize academics, testing, and leadership growth
- How community involvement and entrepreneurial initiative strengthen applications
- What to focus on this year — based on your student's grade
Meet Our Speakers
Ben Gutierrez - Lead Counselor, Empowerly
A college admissions expert with over a decade of experience guiding students through the college search and application process. Ben has reviewed more than 10,000 applications and served as an admissions officer at Vanderbilt University and Johns Hopkins University.
Swayam Shah - Student Entrepreneur & Researcher
A senior at Enloe High School and co-founder of SoberRide, an AI-powered startup developing breathalyzer and facial analysis systems. Swayam placed Top 3 at the TiE Global Finals 2024 and his work has been featured by CES, IEEE Spectrum, and MADD.
Yolanda Keith - College Admissions Professional
A seasoned admissions expert with over 20 years of experience and former Associate Director of Admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill. Yolanda specializes in transforming community service into meaningful civic leadership.
Sonia Daptardar - Youth Leader & Philanthropist
A junior at Panther Creek High School who founded Seeds of Reading, an initiative impacting thousands of people across four countries. Sonia has received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award three times.
Why Attend?
Families who plan intentionally reduce stress, avoid costly mistakes, and build stronger outcomes. This high-impact experience provides a complete framework for leadership, strategy, initiative, and execution.
Space is intentionally limited to keep the experience interactive and high-value.
For more details and to register, visit the event page.