Degree Name

MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management

First Advisor

Karen Blanchard

Abstract

LEAPYEAR is an alternative educational program offered by LEAPYNOW for young people aged 17 to 22 . The program aims at helping adolescents transition into adulthood, discover their hidden talents and live consciously as a responsible adult through international travel, service work and “inner journey”. The program is accredited through Antioch University Seattle, therefore all the participants have an opportunity to get credits for a full year of college. This qualitative inquiry aims at evaluating the LEAPYEAR program from students’ perspectives. One major goal of the research is to form a proposal for an extension program of Antioch University Seattle (AUS). A questionnaire sent via email to LEAPYEAR alumni as well as interviews with program 2 alumni and a staff person sought input in determining the affect of the LEAPYEAR program on participants’ personal and professional development, academic work and future career choices. The results of 59 alumni respondents revealed that LEAPYEAR program greatly contributes to participant’s personal and professional growth, empowering them and providing them with practical tools they can use in everyday life. Overall, the findings revealed that for most alumni, LEAPYEAR became a life-changing experience that significantly assisted them in getting maturity and grow both personally and professionally. This study based on the feedback of LEAPYEAR alumni will be used in forming the proposal for a two-year extension program of Antioch University Seattle.

Disciplines

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

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