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Northern Illinois University

Scholarship Coordination

Holmes Student Center and Altgeld Hall

Leaders and Scholars Program

"Becoming Future Campus Leaders at Northern Illinois University"

students

The Leaders and Scholars Program is more than simply a scholarship, it is an opportunity for student leaders from around the state to come together and share a common experience as first year students at NIU.

Students selected to participate in the NIU Leaders and Scholars Program will:

  • Learn how to maximize the academic experience.
  • Gain exposure to on-campus involvement as well as encouragement to become the future campus leaders at Northern Illinois University.
  • Analyze and develop ideas and strategies for positively impacting the student experience at NIU for ALL students.

For further information on the Leaders and Scholars Program at NIU, please follow the links below:

Program Information

Students selected to take part in NIU's Leaders and Scholars Program will actively participate with a group of 20 fellow students helping to define the first year experience at NIU.

This group will be charged with:

  • Identifying an issue facing campus
  • Developing strategies to overcome this issue
  • Presenting their findings so NIU can serve its students better

These students will draw from their own experiences to make the first year experience better for all students who attend NIU, and develop the skills to allow them to grow into campus and community leaders throughout their undergraduate career.

The NIU Leaders and Scholars Program provides a $2,500.00 scholarship toward the cost of first year of attendance at NIU.

studentsProgram Activities

The students selected to participate in the NIU Leaders and Scholars Program will be involved in a multitude of unique experiences during their freshman year. NIU Leaders and Scholars will:

  • Live on campus during their freshmen year.
  • Enroll full-time in both the fall and spring terms and maintain good academic standing.
  • Enroll and actively participate in the one-hour Leadership Course during the spring semester.
  • Participate in a one-day retreat prior to the beginning of the fall term.
  • Become involved in two different types of campus activities during their first year on campus.
  • Interview a community member in a field or discipline the student is considering as an academic program of study.
  • Meet with the NIU Leaders and Scholars coordinator as scheduled and attend all regularly scheduled meetings.
  • Assist in the preparation and presentation of the final project for the leadership course.
  • Assist in assessment of the NIU Leaders and Scholars Program.

Program Requirements

The criteria for this program are not the typical qualifications associated with most scholarships. Instead, NIU is looking for those students who have made a difference.

This program seeks students who are respected both in and out of the classroom by both faculty and their peers, and who have demonstrated the ability to impact their community with their actions.

Application/Nomination Forms and Deadlines

Nominations:

Please help us in identifying and attracting the students who have made a real difference in your school or community, and can bring their sills and abilities to this unique experience. Please download a Nomination Form below:

Nominations for the NIU Leaders and Scholars Program are due to The Office of Scholarship Coordination/Scholarship Services (Swen Parson 245K) by January 1st. Nominees will be main an application to complete.

Applications:

If you as a student are interested in the NIU Leaders and Scholars Program, please fill out the application form provided below. It is important to note that you do not need to be nominated to be considered for this program.

Applications are due February 1st to the Office of Scholarship Coordination/Scholarship Services (Swen Parson 245K).

IMPORTANT: All candidates must be granted admission to NIU for the upcoming academic year by February 1st in addition to the other program deadlines.