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Leadership Scholarship Application: Academic Year
Scholarships of $1,000–$2,000 are offered on an annual basis to students who demonstrate leadership and engagement outside of the classroom. In addition to this financial scholarship, opportunities are provided to awarded students as part of our Behrend Leadership Scholar program. Opportunities occur throughout the semester and include social events, service projects, speakers, alumni resources, and workshops.
- First-year students: Applications for first-year students starting in Fall 2025 are now CLOSED.
- Transfer, change-of-campus, and returning students: Applications for the 2025-26 academic year will open March 1, 2025. Applications must be received by Monday, March 31, 2025.
Direct any additional materials or questions to Kris Motta Torok, director, Student Leadership and Involvement, at [email protected] or 814-898-6171.
Penn State Behrend Student Leadership Conference
February 7–8, 2025
Each February, Penn State Behrend students and staff offer insight into what direction to take on your leadership journey. Various sessions with students and staff provide guidance and direction for your college career and future.
Previous workshops have included What it Means to Lead in the Workplace Now, Self-Authorship Through Life's Challenges, Finding Your Space in the Marvel Leadership Universe, and Leadership Lessons from Chancellor Ford. Our keynote address and workshop for 2022 featured Tom Krieglstein and his Dancefloor Theory method of leadership and involvement, winner of an unprecedented seven National Speaking Titles from APCA.
Questions regarding leadership programming should be directed to Kris Motta Torok, director, Student Leadership and Involvement, at [email protected].
Penn State Summer Leadership Conference
August 2025
The Penn State Summer Leadership Conference (SLC) provides a challenging and motivating experience for participants where they will learn to be empowered, confident leaders—both personally and professionally. Participants will be inspired to lead purposeful lives while upholding the Penn State values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence, and community!
Students who participate in the Penn State SLC will be able to:
- Enhance essential skills and competencies and identify areas for further exploration and development in the pursuit of leadership excellence, specifically ethical decision-making, creative education and innovation, group dynamics, and conflict management
- Explain the importance of embracing a diverse and inclusive community as it relates to multicultural competency
- Define their leadership values and philosophies through self-awareness exercises
- Demonstrate how their role as a student leader at Penn State can be applied to their future
Leadership Badges
Badges are a growing device in various professional fields that allow you to show learning, skill, and experiences as a "micro-credential" in addition to the technical skills you learned in your degree courses. Think Boy Scout and Girl Scout badges for knotting, cookie sales, and wilderness survival, which show proven skill gains in that particular area and, when accumulated, show off your full skillset!
Penn State Behrend's badges are based on leadership development research and empirical studies so that, when a badge is awarded, it helps demonstrate to faculty, staff, and hiring professionals everything you bring to the table.
Leadership Badges: You've learned them...now earn them.
- Problem Solving
- Personal Values
- Collaboration
- Group Development
- Creating Change
- Inclusion and Belonging
- Service to Others