Kimberly Kimani, a Ritenour High School student leader, is one of 100 rising seniors from across the nation selected for the prestigious Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA) program. 

As a LEDA scholar, Kimani will participate in a five-week summer leadership institute with the 2023 LEDA cohort at Princeton University. The summer program is the first component of a six-year journey that prepares and mentors students to be successful at the most selective colleges and universities in the nation. Kimani will take a course that focuses on ethical and effective leadership, an intensive writing course, college entrance exam preparation and community building. 

“I’m excited to be a part of the 19th LEDA cohort because of the many opportunities they are providing us students -- from ACT Prep classes to college essay writing and application classes. They are preparing us for our next stage in life, which makes me more confident and motivated to do as much as I can in preparation for my last year of high school.”

Kimani's future plans include going to the University of Pennsylvania to earn an undergraduate degree in business management and then heading to law school to become a medical malpractice attorney.

Kimani already has an impressive resume. This past year she was treasurer of the National Honor Society and will be president during the upcoming school year. She also is vice president of the Game Changers, and an active member in the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, the Speech and Debate Club, and the varsity soccer team.

Outside of school, Kimani’s leadership includes being a summer teaching assistant for the AIM HIGH program, a participant in the 2022 Missouri Scholars Academy, a current member of the youth cohort of Focus STL, which identifies community challenges and offers solutions, and a participant in the UMSL Bridge program.