After a 22-week journey of hard work and self-discovery, a group of Illawarra high school students have graduated from a valuable leadership program.

The year 11 and 12 students celebrated their achievements in the Max Potential program, co-ordinated by Dapto Leagues Club, with a showcase at the leagues club on August 27.

The students are from Kanahooka High School, Dapto High School, Cedars Christian College, Albion Park High School, Warilla High School, Illawarra Sports High School at Berkeley and Edmund Rice College.

The program included individual coaching from community volunteers, including business and community leaders. Participants learnt how to lead their own lives effectively, lead others in a team and make a difference in their community.

Alannah Jennison, a year 11 student at Warilla High School, said she really enjoyed taking part in Max Potential.

"It was a really great experience," she said.

"I thought it would be really hard and would segregate me from my school projects, but it was so easy to do and I gained so much from it, so I'm so grateful for it all."

Alannah, who wants to study criminology at university, said she discovered how much she had to give and had gained maturity, organisational skills and an ability to "handle things better".

She praised her coach Leanne Sim, who provided constant support. Max Potential project manager and coach Leanne Sim, who is also a Dapto scouts leader, said the program was amazing and being a coach was a learning experience.

"We got coached as well ... we get asked to look beyond our own doubts and insecurities," she said. "My passion is making a difference in the lives of the youth."