Student leaders will now have the opportunity to relieve some of the financial burden of an Emory education with the Office of Campus Life's new Student Leadership Scholarship.
The scholarship, which consists of $1,000 in addition to other benefits, will be awarded on an annual basis and is intended for a student leader who "in many ways is positively benefiting the community of Emory University," according to the Office of Campus Life's website.
A committee of administrators determines the single student who will receive the scholarship each year.
The scholarship's recipient will also receive direct mentorship from different administrators on campus. The scholarship winner will have accesses to a list of administrators who he or she will be able to use as resources to facilitate any plan or project that they might have, according to the scholarship's website.
College senior Brian Fuller has been working on developing the scholarship since last year when he proposed it as part of his platform for the position of Student Government Association (SGA) president.
The scholarship funded thorough the Office of Campus Life, is need-based, according to Fuller, but it is unlikely the award will be given to an individual who is on full financial aid because doing so would defeat the scholarship's purpose.
"In addition to financial aid, you have to show some leadership on campus," Fuller said. "If you're positively contributing to the Emory community and you have financial need, you can apply to the scholarship."
The winner of the scholarship will meet with Dean of Students Bridget Riordan twice a month.
Fuller said a few individuals have agreed to sign up for the list of administrators scholarship winners can reach out to for assistance.
"The student will be privy to talking to this list of administrators as often as they want to help them with any projects they might want to lead or do or just to learn more about different areas around campus," Fuller said.
Administrators are looking for a student who wants to contribute to the University community as a leader and wants to represent the community, said Riordan, a member of the selection committee.
The scholarship is intended for an individual who "is very engaged in the Emory community, who loves Emory, who wants to improve Emory and who wants to focus their efforts and try to improve the community," Fuller said.
The committee also seeks a student who wants to dedicate a significant amount of time to Emory but is unable to because he or she is preoccupied with a job to help pay for school.
In addition to Riordan, members of the selection committee include Senior Vice President and Dean of Campus Life Ajay Nair, Assistant Dean for Campus Life Matt Garrett and Director of Residence Life Andy Wilson.
According to Riordan, the Office of Campus Life is seeking to expand the scholarship's value through fundraising in the coming years.
The scholarship might increase to subsidize room and board in the near future, according to Fuller.
Fuller specified the scholarship is not meant to just be a dedication to the Residence Hall Association or Student Government Association but also for those who show a dedication to Emory as a whole.
–By Dustin Slade
