Program Details

The Presidential Leadership Institute begins on July 12 and concludes on July 18 2026.  Participants will arrive on the campus of York University in York, Nebraska on July 12 and the program will begin that evening (shuttle services can be arranged for those arriving by plane in Omaha).
 

Highlights of the program include (subject to change):
 

• VIP Tour of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum.
• Special classes taught by members of the York University faculty.
• Team building projects designed specifically for your school.
• Classes taught by leaders such as Dr. Nathan Mellor, CEO of Strata Leadership, LLC, the world's largest character based leadership company and other academic and business leaders.
• Personal interaction with Dr. Tim Westbrook, President of York University.
• Daily spiritual emphasis highlighted with nightly devotionals.

Sunday, July 12

12:00 pm-6:00 pm     Move into Studebaker Apartments

6:30 pm                      Kick-Off Dinner - Dr. Nathan Mellor/ Dr. Jared Pack (Miller Room)

8:00 pm                      Introductions & Orientation/Sponsors’ meeting/campus tour

9:00 pm                      Sunday Evening Worship (Prayer Chapel) 

11:00 pm                     Lights out!

Monday, July 13

7:30 am                   Breakfast (Mackey Cafeteria)

8:30 am                   Presentation 

10:30 am                 School teams meet to define projects (assigned locations)

Noon                       Lunch (Mackey Cafeteria)

1:00 pm                   Workshop 

3:30 pm                   Presentation 

4:30 pm                   School Teams (assigned locations)

                        Sponsor Track -  

5:30 pm                   Dinner (Mackey Cafeteria)

6:30 pm                   Group activity (Planned by YU Admissions)

7:30 pm                   Assigned group recap of the day (Mackey Cafeteria) 

8:00 pm                   Presentations by assigned groups (Miller Room)

9:00 pm                   Devotional (McGehee steps)                     

11:00 pm                  Lights out!    

Tuesday, July 14

6:15 am                   Grab & Go Breakfast (Studebaker Apartments Lobby)

6:45 am                   Depart for Abilene, KS - (Studebaker Parking Lot)

9:30 am                   Eisenhower Library and Museum Tour 

Noon                       Lunch – Eisenhower Library Atrium - Q&A with Ms. Mary Eisenhower

1:00 pm                   IKE Activity – Eisenhower Library Auditorium 

3:00 pm                   Return to York

6:00 pm                   Dinner

7:00 pm                   School Teams (assigned locations)

                       Sponsor Track: Dr. Tim and Dr. Anessa Wesbrook (Cornerstone Room)

8:00 pm                   Assigned group recap of the day (Mackey Cafeteria)

8:30 pm                   Presentations by assigned groups (Miller Room)

9:00 pm                   Devotional (McGehee Steps)

11:00 pm                  Lights out!

Wednesday, July 15

7:30 am                  Breakfast

8:30 am                  School Teams (assigned locations)

9:30 am                  Workshop 

Noon                      Lunch (Mackey Cafeteria)

1:00 pm                  School teams (assigned locations)

                     Sponsor Track - 

2:00 pm                 School teams with Faculty Sponsors (assigned locations)

3:00 pm                 Presentation 

4:00 pm                 Presentation

5:00 pm                 Break

5:30 pm                 Dinner (Mackey Cafeteria)

6:30 pm                 Presentation - Mr. Joe Davis (Miller Room)

8:00 pm                 Assigned group recap of the day (Mackey Cafeteria)

8:30 pm                 Presentations by assigned groups (Miller Room)

9:00 pm                 Devotional (McGehee steps)

11:00 pm                Lights out!

Thursday, July 16

7:00 am                Breakfast (Mackey Cafeteria) 

7:30 am                Board bus for Lincoln, NE (Mackey Center) 

9:00 am                Nebraska Unicameral and Tour of Nebraska State Capitol Building 

12:00 pm              Lunch

2:00 pm                Return to York 

3:30 pm                School Teams (assigned locations) 

              Sponsor Track: Howard Todd (McNeese Conference Room)

 5:30 pm               Dinner 

6:30 pm                Group Activity (Deal or No Deal) 

8:30 pm                Assigned group recap of the day (Mackey Cafeteria) 

9:30 pm                Devotional (Guys–Spiritual Life Center; Girls–Prayer Chapel) 

11:00 pm Lights out! 

Friday, July 17

7:30 am                   Breakfast

8:30 am                   Presentation -YU Student Panel (Miller Room)

9:30 am                   Assigned group wrap-up/lessons learned/evaluation

10:00 am                 Presentations by assigned groups (Miller Room)

10:30 am                 Final team planning session (scheduled practice BPAC)

12:00 pm                  Lunch (Mackey Cafeteria)

1:00 pm                   Final team planning session (scheduled practice in BPAC)

3:00 pm                  Team presentations (Bartholomew Performing Arts Center)

6:00 pm                  Awards Banquet/final comments - Dr. Jared Pack (Miller Room)

9:00 pm                  Devotional (The Spiritual Life Center)

9:30 pm                  Open Mic Night! (The Spiritual Life Center)

12:00 am                 Lights out!

Saturday, July 18    

6:30-9:00 am   Continental Breakfast (Studebaker Apartments Lobby)

Breakfast Meals:

Quick breakfast (travel day):

• Assorted Quiche, sausage or bacon egg croissants

Full breakfasts (regular days):

• Scrambled eggs, bacon, chorizo, Spanish potatoes, tortillas, refried beans, roasted peppers, fried polenta cakes
• Scrambled eggs, eggs to order, bagel and lox, English muffins, sausage, grilled ham, Hollandaise, hash browns, oatmeal
• Biscuits and gravy, omelets, bacon, sausage, grits, scrambled eggs, hash brown patties, breakfast pizza,

All Breakfasts include continental: yogurt, fresh fruit, granola, bagels and cream cheese, doughnuts, hard-boiled eggs, cheese plate, muffins, croissants, cereal

Lunch Meals:

• Lamb or Chicken Gyros, Chips, Hummus & Tapenade Bar
• BBQ Smoked Pork Sandwiches, Brisket Sandwiches, Baked Beans, Broccoli
• Grilled Chicken or Shrimp Caesar Salads, Spinach salad, Pita Pockets with Chicken/Tuna Salad

All lunches include salad bar, dessert bar and ice cream.

Dinner Meals:

• Sweet & Sour Chicken, Crispy Orange Beef, Fried Rice, Crab Rangoons, Eggrolls
• Hamburgers, Hot dogs, Chicken, with fixings.
• Individual Chicken Pot Pies, Beef Wellington, Brussel Sprouts, Yukon Gold Potatoes
• Chicken Parmesan, Shrimp Alfredo, Garlic Bread, Green Beans.

All dinners include salad bar, dessert bar and ice cream.

Friday night awards banquet:

• Grilled halloumis salad with mandarin orange vinaigrette, Roasted chicken with lemon thyme cream, wild mushroom rice, zucchini & squash, mixed berry and chocolate cheesecake.

Sunday night banquet:

• Frilled flank steak, Teriyaki grilled salmon w/ pineapple, rice pilaf, mashed potatoes, honey dill carrots, green beans, fruit of the forest pie.

* Special meals can be cooked to order for those who have special dietary needs.