GW LEAPP
Launched in September 2019, GW LEAPP is a comprehensive four-year program designed to give student-athletes the tools to succeed in and out of competition.
All first-year GW student-athletes take part in LEAPP, which stands for Leadership Excellence: Acquire, Practice, Perform, with a select group advancing to more advanced leadership study in subsequent years. Built on the athletic department values of Determination, Commitment and Respect, the program emphasizes campus resources and local partnerships to provide hands-on training throughout the school year.
LEAPP was featured in the December 2019 issue of NACDA's Athletics Administration.
Each group focuses on specific aspects of leadership as part of a holistic approach to developing student-athletes.
The first-years grow an understanding of GW's values and traditions and learn the basic principles of leadership. The theme of the sophomore group throughout the year is leading by example, while the juniors learn more about developing leadership strategies that can be used in the locker room, classroom and community and then put those lessons into action through peer mentoring.
The seniors study how those leadership skills translate into the real world. Each graduating class also develops a legacy project to leave a landmark on campus to mark their time in Buff and Blue.
John Square, GW's Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations, has perhaps summed up LEAPP's mission statement best: "This program is designed to make us elite in everything that we do. The goal is to give you the tools you need to lead you to be the best version of yourself."