ADAMS TWP — The success of the first Mars Summer Leadership Academy at Mars High School last year means it will be bigger this year.

Darcy Silbaugh, an English teacher at the school and one of the founders of the program at Mars, said 15 students in grades nine through 12 signed up for the program last year. This summer 21 students will be in it June 16 to 21.

The program, modeled after one at Upper St. Clair High School, uses learning strategies, group projects and hands-on activities to bring out the leadership skills in young people.

Silbaugh explained that there are four or five phases of the program, and the first phase was used at Mars last year. That phase aims to help students figure out who they are and what their best leadership style would be.

This year, Silbaugh and guidance counselor Tina Yankello, plus two additional teachers, will roll out the program’s second phase for the eight students who were in last year summer.

Silbaugh said that the second phase focuses more on the students learning how people perceive them and how they could best be a relational leader.

“It goes from an introspective point of view to looking out,” Silbaugh said.

She said the 13 new students will participate in the first phase, in which they will create individual leadership plans that will include a personal mission statement and an evaluation of each student’s values.

Yankello said the students will take that information and develop a picture of what they would be like when they are functioning at their best. Each student’s skills also will be used in group activities.

Silbaugh said one assignment at last year’s academy required students to open up about themselves, which she and Yankello agree can be difficult for young and insecure adults.

“Every single one of them opened up and told a personal story of perseverance,” Silbaugh said. “Everyone shared something intimate.”

She said an open session on the last day in 2013 also had every student get up and share something.

Silbaugh said she and Yankello trained two additional teachers this year for the program.

She said the academy gives students a platform and pattern as potential leaders, and she would like to see other phases added in the future.

“We hope we can eventually do all of the phases like Upper St. Clair does,” Silbaugh said. “We would like to see our (leadership academy program) grow as well.”

She said in the final phase of the academy, students plan and do a community service program.

“The kids have these ideas, but the leadership academy gives them the opportunity to structure a foundation,” she said.