IIT Leadership Academy Scholarships

Each year the Leadership academy offers full tuition scholarships to a select number of IIT students who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential. Qualified Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors are eligible to apply for this scholarship award.

Who is eligible?

All full-time undergraduate IIT freshmen, sophomore and junior year students that have completed at least 1 semester of coursework at IIT are encouraged to apply for this multi-year, full tuition scholarship-based leadership program. Recipients of other scholarships are eligible for this scholarship program as well. You must have at least a 2.25 cumulative GPA in order to be eligible. In addition, you must have a completed faculty/staff nomination form in order for your application to be reviewed.

Opportunities to facilitate the Sophomore Leadership Retreat experience before each fall semester.

The Leadership Academy scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who posses exceptional leadership potential. Recipients of the scholarship receive a full tuition award for up to four years of undergraduate education and participate in an intensive leadership development program, including:

• A series of leadership seminars and workshops;
• Assignment to a professional mentor;
• Opportunities to facilitate the Sophomore Retreat outdoor retreat experience before each fall semester.

Leadership scholars will receive a Certificate in Leadership Studies upon successful completion of the Academy's programs.

How to apply

Through a formal application and screening process, the Leadership Academy will identify undergraduate students who posses exceptional leadership potential. For this group, the Academy will offer scholarships and opportunities to participate in special training and development experiences, which will enable scholars to realize their full leadership potential.

This year, the Academy will award approximately nine scholarships to freshman, sophomores, and juniors who are judged to possess outstanding leadership potential. The identification of these scholars will involve a rigorous selection process.

Please follow the steps outlined below to apply for the Leadership Academy Scholarship:

1. Fill out and submit the scholarship application no later than February 8, 2008. The application may be submitted in one of two forms:
   • Online Application. Available here.
   • Paper Application. Request a paper application by contacting Dr. Bruce Fisher (x73945 or leadership.academy@iit.edu), or download a printable application form. Submit your completed Leadership Academy scholarship application to Dr. Bruce Fisher, Life Science Building, 3105 South Dearborn, Basement, Room 90B
2. Ask the faculty/staff member of your choice to submit a scholarship nomination form by February 15, 2008, making sure to provide the faculty member with a copy of your completed application;
3. The Leadership Academy Staff will contact you to schedule your LEAD (Leadership Experience for Assessment and Development) appointment;
4. The Center for Research and Service staff will conduct LEAD sessions and notify participants of scholarship awards;
5. Center for Research and Service staff will provide all participants with feedback from their LEAD session.

Scholarship awards will be announced during the month of April. Also, during April, all finalists who participated in the LEAD process will be offered feedback regarding their performance through written reports and group feedback sessions. The focus of this feedback will be on professional growth and career development.

Finally, prior to the summer break, the Academy scholars will be invited to attend an orientation session and leadership development workshop to kick off their formal involvement in the IIT Leadership Academy. Feedback regarding scholars' performance in the LEAD process will also be incorporated into this development experience.

Scholarship Renewal Requirements

• The Leadership Academy (LA) scholarship is a full tuition award for the duration of the recipient's undergraduate education, not to exceed four years.
• The LA scholarship is offered in lieu of, not in addition to, other scholarship awards provided for the IIT undergraduate education.
• The scholarship award applies only for full-time undergraduate students at IIT.
• Satisfactory academic progress (defined in the student handbook as a minimum grade point average of 2.25 in each semester) is required.
• Renewal of the scholarship is contingent upon attendance at all LA sponsored programs, including Saturday seminars, regular scholar meetings, and sophomore leadership camps.
• Scholars are required to actively participate on a committee of their choosing to support the development of LA programs. Additionally, scholars are required to contribute ten hours of service to community service projects officially sponsored by the LA.