The **St. Gallen Symposium Wings of Excellence Essay Competition**, run by the **St. Gallen Symposium Foundation**, is a highly selective international **leadership program** that brings top student thinkers to Switzerland. Each year, the 100 best essayists are invited to the prestigious St. Gallen Symposium, where they engage directly with global leaders in business, politics, and academia. Recognized as one of the most competitive opportunities in business and **student leadership**, it offers a fully funded trip, making it especially attractive to ambitious high school and university students worldwide. ### **What Students Gain: Skills, Experience, and Global Exposure** Participants develop advanced skills in **critical thinking**, **public speaking**, and **youth leadership** by writing on complex global topics and then debating their ideas in person. At the symposium, students sit alongside CEOs, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and scholars, gaining a front-row view of how real-world decisions are made. They experience high-level panel discussions, small-group sessions, and networking events that strengthen their confidence, communication, and problem-solving abilities. - Direct interaction with global business and political leaders - Practice presenting and defending ideas in professional settings - Exposure to diverse cultures and perspectives ### **Benefits for College, Career, and Personal Growth** For motivated high school students (especially 11th–12th graders and gap-year students), the competition can strongly enhance college applications and scholarship profiles. Being selected as a Wings of Excellence essayist showcases initiative, intellectual curiosity, and maturity beyond typical **high school** activities. It signals readiness for rigorous university programs in business, economics, public policy, or international relations. Long term, alumni gain a meaningful network, clarity about future careers, and a powerful story of how they contributed to global conversations at a young age. ### **Who Should Apply and Why It Stands Out** The program best fits curious, motivated teens who love big questions, writing, and leadership—students already involved in debate, Model UN, business clubs, or community projects. Among global **youth leadership** opportunities, it stands out for its selectivity, fully funded access, and genuine seat at the table with decision-makers, offering an early, real-world test of students’ leadership potential.