LSMSA’s Leadership Academy debuts with inspiring presentation by Alum Ben Marcel

12/10/2025

The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts is excited to officially announce the launch of a new Leadership Academy. For its first official guest speaker, LSMSA alumnus Ben Marcel returned to campus to share a wealth of hard-earned wisdom with students, drawing from his journey from adoption in Taiwan to academic challenges at LSMSA, and ultimately to building a successful technology business spanning IT services, cybersecurity, data management, and digital communications. His candid reflections on resilience, opportunity, mentorship, and embracing both successes and failures set the tone for the academy’s ambitious vision.

The Emerging Leadership Academy is designed to give students hands-on experience discovering their own leadership styles—not just in theory, but through real-world applications. Launched after Coach Dale Clingerman attended a conference session on student-athlete leadership, the academy was developed with Coaches Jacob Spielbauer and Kay Creel to meet the needs of LSMSA’s diverse student body. The program blends case studies, reflective journaling, group projects, and guest speaker insights to help students learn how to step up, speak up, and make a difference.

The case studies have been as diverse as they are thought-provoking, ranging from leadership on pirate ships to the political rise of Huey P. Long, and the scientific and ethical challenges of the Manhattan Project.

Students tackle complex scenarios with remarkable maturity, focusing on decision-making, communication, and teamwork rather than politics. Early-morning discussions often run long, and meetings are held outdoors regardless of weather—a deliberate choice to teach students how to lead even in uncomfortable situations (unless an indoor meeting is necessary).

Assignments encourage students to identify their strengths, confront weaknesses, and seek everyday leadership opportunities on campus, at home, and in their communities. Spring semester plans include more meetings, new case studies, collaborative projects, and rotating leadership and support roles to reinforce the idea that effective leaders also know how to follow.

Coaches hope future speakers will foster real-world connections, mentorship opportunities, and inspiration that extends well beyond the classroom.

“The goal isn’t for us to teach them,” Clingerman said. “The goal is for all of us to learn together.”

The Leadership Academy will continue throughout the school year, culminating in a student-designed graduation ceremony celebrating the cohort’s growth. LSMSA plans to expand its lineup of guest speakers in the spring as the program continues to evolve and inspire the next generation of leaders.

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LSMSA alumnus Ben Marcel returned to campus to share a wealth of hard-earned wisdom with students.
LSMSA alumnus Ben Marcel's candid reflections on resilience, opportunity, mentorship, and embracing both successes and failures set the tone for the academy’s ambitious vision.

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Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is the preeminent state-supported residential high school with competitive admissions for Louisiana's high-achieving, highly-motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a public school, there is no tuition to attend, and assistance from the LSMSA Foundation ensures the program is available to all qualifying students regardless of family financial need.