Lakeside Chautauqua has been a place to nurture emerging young leaders along the shoreline for decades. This year, Eli Honeycutt stepped forward to elevate and expand the possibilities and potential for young people and their leadership capability in the Lakeside community.
In the past, countless individuals have shared that working and living at Lakeside has helped them uncover their God-given purpose and skills. These individuals later return to share that Lakeside is the reason for their success in leadership in careers like ministry, business, finance, human resources, professional music, arts management, or hospitality work. The Lakeside community of donors, volunteers and supporters is the reason for this impactful growth helping with stipends, lunches, gatherings, fellowship and simply spending time in conversation over coffee.
Lakeside continues this work through the leadership of a long-time Lakesider, Eli Honeycutt. Over the past year, he has worked closely with members of the Lakeside Team to establish the program. He is a rising senior studying business and entrepreneurship at Covenant College. This summer, Honeycutt will lead, organize, and facilitate the Lakeside Leadership Program from June 9-27, 2025.
Lakeside Leadership Program & Student Application
This summer, rising high school seniors to recent College graduates have an opportunity to join the Lakeside Leadership Program taking place from June 9-27, 2025.
The purpose of the Lakeside Leadership Program is to connect young, growth-minded individuals with knowledgeable community members in their fields of interest and to provide the opportunity for advancement in both their personal and professional lives. The program will be structured by matching each young adult with a mentor to meet for an hour once per week, based on their agreed-upon availability, required readings, and nine hours of panels and discussions.
Lakeside invites young people interested in personal and professional development this summer to complete the application. All interested interns, summer workers, locals or guests are encouraged to apply. Student participants must be rising high school seniors to recent college graduates and be present at Lakeside for the full three weeks, June 9-27, 2025. All students are accepted to the program. After students submit their application, individuals will receive information about the schedule of the program, mentorship information and details.
Community Support, Help & Involvement
Throughout Lakeside’s storied-history, the community is a major part of what makes Lakeside so special. Support of time, talent and treasure has provided opportunities for young people to thrive and is a major part of what Honeycutt envisions today for the program.
Your help is needed now more than ever as we support emerging young leaders and help them uncover their skills and purpose as they intern, work and live in the heart of our community. Will you join? The Lakeside Leadership Program recruits community members who value investing in young adults through either being a mentor or speaking on a panel about leadership.
Mentorship
Being a mentor entails weekly hour-long meetings with your assigned student at a mutually agreed-upon time. Ideally, the mentor-student relationship can continue after the program.
Panel Discussion Participation
The Lakeside Leadership Program also seeks panel speakers who can commit to a two-hour session to share insights with the cohort. Panelists will have the opportunity to speak on either The WHAT of Business & Leadership (focusing on action-oriented skills, such as emotional intelligence, resilience and vision) or The HOW of Business & Leadership (focusing on competencies and traits such as team management, problem-solving and communication). Your experience in these areas will provide invaluable guidance to the student participants as they grow in their leadership abilities.
Once Mentor and Panel Discussion applications are complete, Honeycutt will reach out to share next steps and how you can help with the Leadership Program this year.
Giving a Financial Gift
A financial gift to Lakeside helps support the program and sustain the program into the future. Financial support directly supports the gatherings, fellowship and leadership of our young people. This designed and restricted gift will be used this year and in future years.
Meet Eli Honeycutt, Facilitator
Eli Honeycutt is the creator and facilitator of the three-week Lakeside Leadership Program. He is a rising senior studying business and entrepreneurship at Covenant College. During his time at Covenant, he has been blessed to be part of the men’s soccer program, contributing to two conference championships and learning the value of teamwork and leadership. He is a fifth-generation Lakesider who has spent his childhood growing up in the community.
I am excited to lead and facilitate this program and learn and grow as a leader this summer. Lakeside is a special place as I spent my childhood growing up in the community, shares Eli Honeycutt.
Participating in a leadership development gap year three years ago helped him realize the great potential the Lakeside community has to help develop young adult Lakesiders. Over the past year, he has worked closely with members of the Lakeside Team to establish this opportunity for Lakesiders. He is excited to be part of this program and develop personally as he helps facilitate the program this summer.
If you have recommendations for a student, mentor or panel speaker, or if you have questions about the program, contact Eli Honeycutt by email el***********@***il.com or by phone at (423) 596-9483.
