Never Ever Ever Give Up Global Youth Leadership Boot Camp
- Designed exclusively for teenage children of YPO Members, nurtured by Fortune 500 CEO and Best-Selling Author Jay Sidhu and presented by members of the YPO Pennsylvania Chapter
For two intensive weeks, a select cohort of over three dozen teens (ages 14–19) from YPO families around the world came together at Ǵý in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA, exploring entrepreneurship, AI, and global leadership; meeting members of Congress in the US Capitol; visiting Independence Hall, Franklin Institute, and the Wharton School; touring the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations; ringing the closing bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange; and becoming more emotionally, spiritually and intellectually mature. Graduation, with parents, took place at the NYSE.
2026 NEEGU Camp In Photos
Week 1
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Week 2
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NYC
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Schedule of Events
- Sunday, June 14, 2026 — Arrival & Launch Day
Morning
- Arrival & Check-In
Afternoon
- Welcome & Introduction
- Icebreakers
- Teamwork Exercise
- Interpersonal Skills
- Communication Skills
- Business Strategies & Tactics
Evening
- YPO-Style Forum
- Personal Development
- Monday, June 15, 2026
Morning
- YPO Leadership Speaker: Luvleen Sidhu, CEO, BM Technologies (YPO Manhattan)
- Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Speaker: Greg Header, Founder & President, IRT Reels; Former Founder & CEO, Solar Innovations; Namesake of the Header School of Business, Ǵý
- Wellbeing Workshop Speaker: Navlika Varma, Clinical Psychologist & Managing Director (YPO Pretoria)
Afternoon- AI for Impact & Project Work
- Communication Skills for a Digital World
Evening- Personal Development & Social Activities
- YPO-Style Forum
- Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Morning
- YPO Leadership Speaker: Michael Pavone, CEO, Pavone Group (YPO Pennsylvania)
- Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset Development
- Wellbeing Workshop Speaker: Navlika Varma, Clinical Psychologist & Managing Director (YPO Pretoria)
Afternoon- AI for Impact & Project Work
- Communication Skills for a Digital World
Evening- Personal Development & Social Activities
- YPO-Style Forum
- Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — Philadelphia Immersion Day
Morning
- Travel to Philadelphia
- Independence Hall
- AI program at the Wharton School
- Liberty Bell and Carpenters’ Hall
Afternoon/Evening- Franklin Institute
- Independence Hall
- Wharton Visit
- Return to Alvernia
- Thursday, June 18, 2026
Morning
- YPO Leadership Speaker: Brian Johnson, Founder, President & CEO, Mail Shark; VP of Franchise Development, Dumpster Dudez (YPO Pennsylvania)
- Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset Development
- Wellbeing Workshop Speaker: Navlika Varma, Clinical Psychologist & Managing Director (YPO Pretoria)
Afternoon- AI for Impact & Project Work
- Communication Skills for a Digital World
Evening- Personal Development & Social Activities
- YPO-Style Forum
- Friday, June 19, 2026 — Civic Learning
Morning
- YPO Leadership Speaker: Shailu Tipparaju, Founder, Magna Education (YPO Chicago)
- Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset Development
- Wellbeing Workshop Speaker: Navlika Varma, Clinical Psychologist & Managing Director (YPO Pretoria)
Afternoon- AI for Impact & Project Work
- Communication Skills for a Digital World
Evening- YPO-Style Forum
- Saturday, June 20, 2026—Sports Industry Day
Afternoon
- Berks County Minor League Sports: The Business of Sport
Evening- Reading Fightin Phils Experience (pool + game)
- Sunday, June 21, 2026 — CSR, Sustainability & Outdoor Leadership
Morning
- Interfaith Service
- CSR & Sustainability Discussion
- Travel to Nolde Forrest Sanctuary
- Hiking + Private Lecture: Matthew Cougle, COO, Cougle’s Recycling Inc. (YPO Pennsylvania)
Afternoon/Evening- Return to Alvernia / Reset
- Guests of Dr. Glynis Fitzgerald, President of Ǵý, at Cedar Hill (conversation on applying to American Universities)
- Dinner & Pool Party
- Monday, June 22, 2026
Morning
- YPO Leadership Speaker: Barry Schlouch, President, Schlouch, Inc. (YPO Pennsylvania)
- Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset Development
- Wellbeing Workshop Speaker: Navlika Varma, Clinical Psychologist & Managing Director (YPO Pretoria)
Afternoon- AI for Impact & Project Work
- Communication Skills for a Digital World
Evening- Personal Development & Social Activities
- YPO-Style Forum
- Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Morning
- YPO Leadership Speaker: Sam Sidhu, President & CEO of Customers Bancorp and Customers Bank
- Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset Development
- Wellbeing Workshop Speaker: Navlika Varma, Clinical Psychologist & Managing Director (YPO Pretoria)
Afternoon- AI for Impact & Project Work
- Communication Skills for a Digital World
Evening- Personal Development & Social Activities
- YPO-Style Forum
- Wednesday, June 24, 2026 — Washington, D.C. Immersion Day
Morning
- Travel to Washington, D.C.
- Presentations by Members of Congress / U.S. Leaders
Afternoon
- Reflection
- U.S. Capitol Tour
- National Mall Walk + Smithsonian Museums
- Lincoln Memorial
Evening
- Dinner with D.C.-Area YPO Members
- Return to Alvernia
- Thursday, June 25, 2026
Morning
- YPO Leadership Speaker: Sandy Solomon, Founder & CEO, Sweet Street & Celavie Biosciences
- Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset Development
- Wellbeing Workshop Speaker: Navlika Varma, Clinical Psychologist & Managing Director (YPO Pretoria)
Afternoon- AI for Impact & Project Work
- Communication Skills for a Digital World
Evening- Personal Development & Social Activities
- YPO-Style Forum
- Friday, June 26, 2026 — New York City & Graduation
Morning
- Pack and load luggage for ultimate travel home.
- Travel to NYC.
- Tour the United Nations.
Afternoon
- Lunch meeting with US Ambassador Jeff Bartos at the U.S. Mission to the UN
- Travel to New York Stock Exchange
- Visit the NYSE floor.
- Participate in closing bell.
Evening
- Reunite with family in NYSE Board Room for dinner and closing program.
- Student presentations.
- Depart for Alvernia.
- Saturday, June 27
Morning
- Depart for Philadelphia airport.
Signature Experiences
Washington, D.C. Experience
Participants met with Members of Congress, Administration Officials and Staff, toured the U.S. Capitol, walked down the National Mall, and visited the Smithsonian Museums and the Lincoln Memorial.
U.S. Congress
Participants met with these lawmakers for questions and discussion:
U.S. Senator
David McCormick
U.S. Congressman
Dan Meuser
U.S. Congresswoman
Chrissy Houlahan
United Nations Experience
Participants toured the United Nations in New York City, followed by a lunch meeting with US Ambassador Jeff Bartos at the U.S. Mission to the UN.
Graduation at the NYSE
The program culminated with a graduation ceremony in the New York Stock Exchange boardroom, where students received their certificates in the presence of family guests.
Program Champion - Jay Sidhu
Jay Sidhu serves as Chief Executive Officer of Customers Bancorp, Inc., and Executive Chairman of Customers Bank. He has an extensive and recognized background in banking. Prior to joining Customers Bank, he served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. There, he grew the organization from an Initial Public Offering of $12 million to a market cap approaching $12 billion, crediting it as the 17th largest banking institution in the country.
Sidhu has received various recognitions in the industry, including Financial World’s CEO of the Year, Turnaround Entrepreneur of the Year, and was named the Large Business Leader of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. He has spoken at YPO Universities in Dubai and Hong Kong about Authentic Leadership and has also been a speaker at conferences around the world and all over the US including the United State Military Academy at West Point.
Sidhu will be onsite each day guiding and shaping the discussion and dialogue.
YPO Champions
Joining Sidhu will be YPO Members who have founded and led companies across industries. Each day an entrepreneur will share "real world" stories, present problem-solving solutions and help prepare the cohort to become the world's next global leaders.
Founder, Magna Education
Shailu Tipparaju
YPO Chicago
Founder & CEO, BM Technologies
Luvleen Sidhu
YPO Manhattan
Customers Bank CEO
Sam Sidhu
CEO, Pavone Group
Michael Pavone
YPO Pennsylvania
President, Schlouch, Inc.
Barry Schlouch
YPO Pennsylvania
Founder & CEO, Sweet Street
Sandy Solmon
YPO Philadelphia
Founder, Oaktree Development Group
Steve Zuckerman
YPO Pennsylvania
Managing Director, Lyra Southern Africa
Navlika Varma
YPO Pretoria
Founder, President & CEO, Mail Shark; VP of Franchise Development, Dumpster Dudez
Brian Johnson
YPO Pennsylvania
COO, Cougle’s Recycling Inc.
Matthew Cougle
YPO Pennsylvania
Global Community. Exceptional Support.
Alvernia has a growing, vibrant international community—and an Office of Global Engagement dedicated to supporting students from the moment they arrive. During the boot camp, students benefit from a warm welcome and orientation tailored to first-time visitors to the U.S. Staff and peer mentors experienced in working with students from the around the world will help navigate practical details—campus life, local transportation, communication home—so students can focus on learning and building friendships. Trained staff will live and travel with the group, ensuring safety, structure, and a trusted adult presence at all times.
Program Snapshot
- Program: Never Ever Ever Give Up Global Leadership Boot Camp
- Host: Ǵý, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
- Eligibility: Teens ages 14–19 from YPO member families (plus one optional companion per student, subject to availability)
- Cohort Size: Capped at 50 students
- Dates: June 14-26, 2026
- Tuition: $7,995 USD
- Includes: housing, meals, campus programming, domestic group travel for scheduled excursions, activity fees, and graduation events
- Excludes: international airfare, visa fees, individual spending money, and any independent travel before/after the program
- Language of Instruction: English
- Certificate: Ǵý certificate of completion
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How selective is the program?
The boot camp is limited to 50 students worldwide and reserved for YPO families (with limited companion spaces). There are no essays or recommendations required, but interest is expected to be strong; early registration is encouraged.
- What are the housing accommodations like?
The Boot Camp will have be housed in Clare Hall a traditional college residence halls located on Alvernia’s beautiful 121-acre hillside campus. The intent is to give students a taste of college life.
For added security, the Boot Camp will occupy the full second floor (no ground level window access or egress) and access to the floor will be limited to cohort members.
The two wings of the floor will be segregated by gender. The individual 513 sq. ft. quad rooms have two sleeping areas, each with two single beds. Each room has an ensuite private bathroom shared only by those four students.
Each wing will have trained Resident Assistants who will be available throughout the time our participants are in the dorms and will, of course, be on duty overnight.
There is a common area at the juncture of the two wings where students might meet for group projects and supervised recreation. Whenever on campus there will be college student and program leaders/"faculty" with them.
- I have questions. Who can I contact for more information?
You can contact Alvernia Trustee and Assistant Program Director Dave Patti via phone or WhatsApp at 610-451-9452.
- How are wellbeing and faith practices supported?
The program emphasizes wellbeing, purpose, and reflective leadership through mindfulness, gratitude, and service. We also clearly accommodate religious practices by providing appropriate times and spaces for prayer or personal spiritual routines.
- What do I do if I have to cancel my enrollment?
Requests for refunds due to cancelation will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Refunds will be considered if there is true family emergency such as a health issue or death in the immediate family, a cause due to military hostilities, or if it is impossible to be granted international travel authorization. Contact: admissions@alvernia.edu if a situation arises.
- How will pickup and arrival be handled?
The program will begin formally with a welcome at 1:00 PM EDT on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Arrival Logistics (Preliminary Planning Guidance)
To assist families in making early travel arrangements, please review the preliminary transportation options below. Final confirmations and detailed instructions will be provided in future communications.Arrival (Philadelphia International Airport → Ǵý)
Students may arrive on either Saturday, June 13 or Sunday, June 14. Shuttle transportation will be available from the airport to campus at the following times:• Saturday, June 13 — Shuttle departs airport at 7:00 PM (EST)
• Sunday, June 14 — Shuttle departs airport at 9:00 AM (EST)
• Sunday, June 14 — Shuttle departs airport at 11:00 AM (EST)
Families are encouraged to select flights that align with one of these shuttle departure windows to ensure a smooth transition to campus.
- How will departure and transportation home be handled?
The program ends at the close of the New York Stock Exchange Graduation ceremony at about 8 PM EDT on Friday, June 26.
Cohort participant luggage will be transported from Ǵý to New York City and stored securely during the day.
The expectation is that students and their luggage will leave the ceremony with their adult guests (parents, grandparents, guardians) for departure home.
Many families will choose to visit and tour NYC for a day or two.
If it is not possible for parents or another adult to pick up a child in NYC, we will transport students back to Ǵý on Friday night and then to the Philadelphia airport on Saturday morning.
On Saturday, June 27, shuttle transportation will be provided from campus to the airport at the following times:
· 4:30 AM departure from campus (arrives ~6:00 AM EST)
· 7:30 AM departure from campus (arrives ~9:00 AM EST)
· 11:00 AM departure from campus (arrives ~12:30 PM EST)
When booking return travel, please select the shuttle option that best aligns with your student’s flight departure time, allowing appropriate time for airport check-in and security.
- What kind of clothing should I pack?
Field Trip Dress is akin to "Corporate Casual" — slacks, skirts. An "official" boot camp golf shirt will be issued to each student and worn for trips. (This is also a safety consideration.) Golf-length shorts are acceptable for Philadelphia and Washington, DC. ONLY long pants for New York.
Seminar Day Dress is "YPO Camp Attire" — comfortable clothing and shoes, but appropriate. Shorts and T-shirts that are not revealing and which don't include distasteful art or slogans will be acceptable.
There will be many opportunities for outdoor and sports activities. There will be at least one day of light hiking in a forest environment. Appropriate clothing and footwear should be packed.
There will be at least two opportunities for swimming (a pool part at the university president's residence - and there is a guarded pool in the baseball stadium), so a bathing suit might be packed.
Tennis courts are available and we will have some group golf lessons. No need to bring clubs or golf shoes.
As noted, residence hall rooms are shared so appropriate nightwear is required.
There are laundry facilities in the residence hall.
- Will this help my child with university applications?
Yes. Students leave with a certificate of completion, an AI-supported digital portfolio, and concrete experiences—from high-level site visits to team projects—that can strengthen essays, interviews, and future academic plans.
- How safe is the program?
Students are supervised by trained counselors and staff on campus and during all travel. Alvernia provides secure housing, 24/7 on-call support, and structured schedules. Group travel to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City is carefully planned with vetted partners.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law all university faculty, resident assistants, college student assistants, and program leaders – whether paid professionals or volunteers – will be required to obtain the mandated clearances prior to assisting with the Boot Camp. This includes obtaining a Pennsylvania Criminal History Check, a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Check, and a fingerprint-based FBI Criminal History Check.
The campus maintains its own Office of Public safety. You can review the university’s federally mandated annual campus crime report here.
- What type of mental health and wellness support will be available for attendees?
We are very much emphasizing mental health through the program with strategies for life-long wellbeing. Ǵý maintains a well-trained and experienced counseling staff through Penn Medicine Healthworks who will be available throughout the experience. Joining the faculty for the Boot Camp is Navlika Ratangee, a clinical psychologist, award-winning business leader, and YPO Member from Johannesburg, South Africa. Navlika will be offering sessions on stress management and coping strategies that will be useful throughout the lives of our participants.
Why Choose Alvernia?
Location
The Global Leadership Boot Camp is hosted at Ǵý in Reading, PA — a growing innovation hub just outside Philadelphia. As a nationally recognized university, Alvernia is distinguished for ethical leadership development, entrepreneurship and experiential learning, earning accolades from the Carnegie Foundation, Colleges of Distinction and U.S. News & World Report. The campus provides a private, immersive setting ideal for cultivating the next generation of purpose-driven leaders.
