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LEAD Scholars

LEAD Scholars


LEAD Scholars is a scholarship program designed to provide leadership development and reflection activities for students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership potential and who are passionate about intentional leadership. LEAD Scholars is looking for driven students interested in developing their leadership skills both in and outside of the classroom. These individuals should embody Saint Leo University's core values in their everyday life and be willing to face obstacles head on with an open mind and heart. 

Uniquely aligned with the University mission to offer a practical, effective model for life and leadership in a challenging world, this program is for students for whom the love of learning is of prime importance. To maintain the status of the program, cohorts are limited to 10 students per class (10 first year scholars, 10 sophomore scholars, 10 junior scholars and 10 senior scholars).

What makes the LEAD Scholars program special?

It is a program with University recognition as well as:

  • $1,000 annual scholarship
  • Annual LEAD Scholars Recognition Celebration & Senior Send-Off in April
  • Ongoing leadership development and reflection opportunities
  • Mentoring relationships built into the first-year scholar experience to help new scholars find their niche
  • Engagement with fellow peer and staff leaders across diverse university and community involvement areas
  • The opportunity to enhance your resume and career readiness through some of the following:
    1. Connecting to unique and diverse leadership opportunities
    2. Designing and leading community service events (sophomore scholars)
    3. Acting as a mentor (junior scholars)
    4. Designing and presenting LEAD Scholar workshop(s) (junior scholars)
    5. Designing and presenting campus wide leadership programs (senior scholars)
    6. Serving on a LEAD scholars committee (senior scholars)

Monthly LEAD Scholar Requirements:

To maintain the status of the program, cohorts are limited to 10 students per class (10 first-year scholars, 10 sophomore scholars, 10 junior scholars, and 10 senior scholars). Each cohort is required to commit to ongoing leadership development through the following: 

First Year Scholars: Rising Leaders 

  1. Exploring campus/community involvement and identify leadership role(s) for sophomore year 
  2. Meeting with junior mentor at least once a month 

Sophomore Scholars: Active Leaders 

  1. Participating in at least one leadership role on campus or within the community 
  2. Designing and executing LEADALL community service project 

Junior Scholars: Mentoring Leaders 

  1. Meeting with first-year mentee at least once a month 
  2. Designing and executing at least one (1) LEAD Scholars Workshop 

Senior Scholars: Leading Leaders 

  1. Assuming leadership role (officer, advisory board, or committee chair) within the program 
  2. Designing and executing campus wide LEADALL events 

Additional Requirements:

  • Attend one (1) Extra Leadership Learning Opportunity and submit verification documentation before midnight on the last day of each month
  • Attend and participate fully in one (1) LEAD Scholars workshop per month
  • Attend and participate fully in one (1) LEADALL event (event with all LEAD scholars; see annual timeline for LEADALL events below)
  • Make all necessary progress on class specific requirements

LEAD Scholars Program Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a Saint Leo University student, attending the University campus of Saint Leo University
    • For incoming First Year scholar candidates; must be accepted and deposited with Saint Leo University
  • Must have exhibited strong leadership potential through participation in high school/collegiate groups, extracurricular activities, and/or extraordinary support for family and community
  • Applicants will show evidence that their lives are guided by Saint Leo University’s core values of personal development, respect, integrity, community, excellence, and responsible stewardship
  • Demonstrate satisfactory academic performance
    • Eligible first-year students must have a minimum unweighted 2.9 high school GPA
    • Current LEAD Scholars and Sophomore/Junior/Senior scholar candidates must maintain a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA
  • Current LEAD Scholars must also:
    • Maintain good judicial standing
    • Annually complete LEAD Scholars program requirements

Interested in getting involved? Connect with us on EngageLeo.