"When I went to City my
entire life changed..."
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Why attend
City on the Hill?
The young people who cherish life, value marriage and family, and treasure religious freedom must be able to articulate their values and understand how they can be involved in shaping culture. COTH is the vehicle to help them do just that.
COTH gives high school students a truly unique, hands-on opportunity to learn about how the Christian worldview defines our participation in the public sphere. During the week of COTH, we focus on how Christians are to approach politics, government, the law, and the media. Various speakers, workshops and activities will help you formulate a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian in public service today. All of this takes place in an action-packed, fun-filled week at Pepperdine University.
Learn the Legislative Process
At COTH, students become part of the political process! You'll join a political party, become a mock legislator, run for office, and research and debate actual bills from several state legislatures. Through this experience, students gain a thorough understanding of how a bill becomes law and what legislators do on a day-to-day basis.
Build
Lasting Friendships
One of the best features of COTH is the opportunity to meet and fellowship with like-minded peers. The COTH staff makes it a priority to ensure that the week is filled with fun events and activities that bring students together and help you form lifelong friendships.
Think Deeply about Faith and Politics
How should we navigate the relationship between our faith and the culture at large? As Christians, what are our rights and responsibilities as citizens operating in the public square? God calls us to be a city on a hill, a light in the darkness, and at COTH we'll help you discover your role, your gifts and your passions so you can make a difference for Christ.
At a Glance
Our unwavering purpose over the past 38 years has been to help equip high school students with effective tools to impact their communities, engage the culture, and meet and network with like-minded students.
Our alumni consistently state that their experience at COTH had a transformative impact on their lives. Whether they entered the world of politics or not, the principles and lessons learned at COTH served to shape their thinking, actions, and plans for the future. We welcomed our first second-generation students in 2021, and we're excited for the COTH legacy to continue with you!
Student applications for COTH 2025 are due no later than June 28, 2025. Just click "Apply" above to access our online application, as well as the pastoral reference form (a requirement for all applicants).
We are a team of creators,
doers and problem solvers.
We're an obstinate, scrappy, eclectic squad with a love of people-focused design.
We’re fueled almost exclusively by caffeine and a tendency to say “what if...”
You’ll typically find us wielding markers in front of whiteboards, arguing by the coffee machine or hunched over a screen.
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CITY ON THE HILL