LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by LeadMN

Overview
The LeadMN Leadership Scholarship recognizes students who combine academic achievement with meaningful community leadership. Winners receive $1,250 (awarded each semester) and are chosen based on demonstrated leadership and service — everything from mentoring young children to organizing youth programs or volunteering as a translator.

Key dates
- Fall-term applications: open January 1 — close April 1 at 11:59 p.m.
- Spring-term applications: open July 1 — close November 1 at 11:59 p.m.

Who is eligible
- Current student at one of the 33 Minnesota State Colleges or Universities
- Cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Undergraduate student who demonstrates leadership and a commitment to serving others
- NOT eligible: graduate students, PSEO students, and members of the LeadMN Board of Directors or Executive Board

What you must submit (checklist)
- Complete the online application form
- Essay 1 (300–600 words): Explain what “leadership” means to you. Use personal examples — your own leadership roles, people who shaped your ideas about leadership, or leaders who influenced you (positively or negatively).
- Essay 2 (300–600 words): Describe what a college education means to you and explain how this scholarship will support your leadership development.
- Leadership skills statement: List 3–5 leadership skills you have and give an example or two for each showing how you’ve used them in (1) education, (2) community, and (3) employment.
- Leadership biography: A concise overview of your leadership experience. Include at least one specific leadership role, the skills you applied, concrete actions you took, and any measurable improvements or promotions that resulted.
- Letter of recommendation: The application requests a letter from someone who can speak to your leadership (community, campus, or organization leaders). The application text also notes that one letter should be from a peer — if this is unclear, contact the scholarship office to confirm how many letters they expect.
- Unofficial school transcript (copy)

A few practical tips (from a teacher)
- Be specific. Concrete examples (numbers, outcomes, short anecdotes) make your leadership real and memorable.
- Stay within the word counts. If you’re under or over, reviewers notice.
- Organize the leadership biography so a reviewer can scan it quickly: role → skills used → actions → result.
- Ask your recommender early and give them a one-page summary of your activities so their letter is focused and helpful.
- Proofread — grammar, clarity, and tone count.

If anything about the application requirements is unclear (especially the recommendation letters), reach out to the scholarship contact listed on the application page so you submit exactly what they expect. Good luck — thoughtful, concrete examples of how you lead and serve make the strongest applications.