History of Ohio Leadership Institute

Ohio Leadership Institute, Inc. was established as non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 1992. Before that time two separate programs were established in 1982 for students in grades 6-8. These programs were Ohio Leadership Training Camp (OhioLTC) and the Ohio Model United Nations (OMUN) program. In 1992 the two programs were placed under the wings of the newly created Ohio Leadership Institute and expanded to schools throughout the state of Ohio.

Both programs were founded by John E. Lester, an educator with degrees in comprehensive social studies, gifted education and school administration. These programs were originally established for students in the Gallipolis City School District in Gallipolis, Ohio, a city on the Ohio River in Southeastern Ohio during the 1981-1982 school year.

After successful programs during the first two years, additional school districts participated in the programs. After five years the programs included students from numerous school districts in Southeastern and Southern Ohio. As the programs grew in numbers, additional schools across the state of Ohio became interested in the focus of leadership development and global education.

Ohio Leadership Training Camp (OhioLTC) was established to allow students to focus on leadership development in a summer residential setting. Campers were exposed to leadership skills, activities and motivation to use these leadership skills. The middle school leadership camp soon expanded to elementary camps and high school camps. Today students in grades 2-12 from across the state of Ohio and neighboring states in the Midwest participate in the summer residential leadership programs.

In 2019 the summer camps were transformed into the Ohio Leadership Training Conference for students in 7-12.

OhioLTC is currently Ohio’s largest summer residential leadership program for students in Ohio.

Ohio Model United Nations (OMUN) was established as a middle school program to allow students in grades 5-8 to learn, not only about the role of the United Nations, but to become familiar with other cultures and peoples throughout the world. In order to explore other cultures, students assume the roles of ambassadors from other nations and conduct research in order to represent these nations in a three-day simulation of the United Nations.

The OMUN program expanded as additional schools attended to include grades 9-12. Students in grades 5-8 attend Jr. OMUN held annually and students in grades 9-12 attend the annual Sr. OMUN session. During the 2018-2019 school year, the OMUN program was attended by over 3000 students from across the state of Ohio and numerous other states including Michigan, Kentucky, Arkansas, New York and Indiana.

The OMUN program is currently Ohio’s largest global education program for students in grades 5-12.

Ohio Leadership Institute Programs:

Ohio Leadership Training Conference
Ohio Leadership Training Conference (OhioLTC) was established to allow students to focus on leadership development in a summer residential setting. Participants are exposed to leadership skills, activities and motivation to use these leadership skills. Today students in grades 7-12 from across the state of Ohio and neighboring states in the Midwest participate in the summer residential leadership programs. OhioLTC is currently Ohio’s largest summer residential leadership program for students in grades 7-12.

Ohio Model United Nations
Ohio Model United Nations (OMUN) was established to allow students in grades 5-12 to learn, not only about the role of the United Nations, but to become familiar with other cultures and peoples throughout the world. In order to explore other cultures, students assume the roles of ambassadors from other nations and conduct research in order to represent these nations in a weekend simulation of the United Nations. During the 2018-2019 school year, the program was attended by over 3000 students from across the state of Ohio and numerous other states including, Kentucky, Arkansas, New York and Indiana.

I-OPEN – International Outreach Program for Education in Nigeria
The Ohio Leadership is proud to sponsor a new International Outreach program: I-OPEN (International Outreach Program for Education in Nigeria). During the 2006-2007 school years OMUN delegates donated $4000 toward the establishment of the project.   Schools across the state of Ohio are currently raising funds to support the program. In the summer of 2006, Ohio Leadership Institute’s Associate Director, Lowell Miller traveled to Nigeria to establish I-OPEN. He spent a month in Nigeria working with AYPAD (African Youth Platform for Development) in order to establish an educational outreach project for Ohio Leadership Institute.

Ohio Leadership Institute currently sponsors the following programs:

    • Ohio Leadership Training Conference (OhioLTC) Middle School – grades 7-8
    • Ohio Leadership Training Conference (OhioLTC) High School – grades 9-12
    • Jr. Ohio Model United Nations (Jr. OMUN)  – grades 5-8
    • Sr. Ohio Model United Nations (Sr. OMUN) – grades 9-12
    • OMUN Advisor’s Training Workshop – for advisors of OMUN programs
    • Quality Professional Development Workshops – Teachers & Administrators
  • Leadership consulting for schools throughout Ohio and the nation.