CGA Life

Learning to Lead. Leading to Serve. 

Young women entering Culver Girls Academy begin their leadership training in the dorm under the prefect system - a structure that provides girls with many opportunities to exercise their voice and practice leadership skills. The leadership system starts during a new student's first days at Culver, when the emphasis is placed on "learning to follow." 

Learning to Follow

During her first year, a new girl in CGA will learn about the prefect system in her dorm and in the classroom. From day one, she will have duties and responsibilities within the dorm and she will also be required to take the class, "Orientation to Culver." This class will help her understand Culver's history and traditions, as well as the Culver Girls Academy Prefect System. Upon successful completion of the course and maintaining good standing within the dorm, she will be invited to the Crest Ceremony. The Crest Ceremony is a new CGA student's rite of passage; she is officially a member of CGA because she has demonstrated that she understands the prefect system and is ready to take on more leadership training to someday hold a prefect position. 

Leading By Example

As sophomore and junior girls demonstrate their understanding of followership and responsible citizenship, they pursue additional leadership training through an application and interview process that requires initiative and facilitates further self-reflection and knowledge. With successful completion of training, students are appointed or elected for leadership positions within the prefect system. These positions are rotated throughout the school year to provide as broad a learning experience as possible. The leaders are mentored and evaluated by prefects and Culver faculty and staff. As their Culver experience continues, young women assume leadership roles of greater responsibility within CGA and in their senior year they assume responsibilities that allow effective functioning and training of all students within CGA. Every girl, whether she has pursued a leadership position within the system or not, continues to play an important role with the minimum expectation that she will contribute positively as a citizen within the dorm and the Culver community.