The Teen Excellence in Leadership Institute (TELI) was created to provide meaningful leadership and civic-engagement experiences to teens. We integrated Chickering's Theory of Identity Development and the 4-H Citizenship Framework to develop program objectives and a model, consisting of four components: understanding of self, developing a network, community problem solving, and advocacy. This study aimed to determine the overall effectiveness of the program, highlight areas for program improvement, and provide a proof of concept for the model. Results on select 4-H Citizenship Common Measures indicated statistically significant gains in the four components of the model for cohorts one and two. Focus group data revealed five themes: diversity, connection, skill development, practical application, and learning about self. Evaluative results substantiate program impact and areas for continued program development.