The Leadership Scholarship provides merit-based scholarships to students who have unmet financial need, and who have shown strong leadership qualities in their service to their communities. There are many barriers to successfully completing a college degree program, and the scholarship is intended to reduce the financial ones.
The Leadership Scholarship is a community-driven, volunteer-led organization providing scholarships to high-school students in the Minneapolis-area. In the past 11 years, The Leadership Scholarship has distributed $100,000 to high school and college students who demonstrated both academic success and proven leaders who strive to make their communities a better place to live. The scholarship is entirely supported by people who believe in giving back and helping students reach their educational goals.
While many students from low-income families receive financial support for tuition costs, there are many (and increasing) costs for students to attend post-secondary education, including but not limited to, textbooks, computers, and rent. According to the Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success, 98% of students in the lowest income quartile attending college have unmet financial need. This unmet financial need places a large burden on students, further exacerbating achievement gaps and results in less than 40% of low income students completing their undergraduate degree within 6 years. A University of Wisconsin study found that for every $1,000 increase in scholarships, next year enrollment increases by 4% and students who earn a Bachelor’s degree can expect to earn $1M more during their lifetime versus students with a high school degree. The Leadership Scholarship intends to assist the lowest income students with the hopes of increasing graduation rates and ultimately multi-generational economic stability.
Recognition of volunteerism correlates with increased GPA, employment, and ultimately enhanced community impact in adulthood. By supporting and engaging young leaders, the community experiences direct benefits, through stronger connections to other young people in the community and new solutions to existing problems.
In 2010, Rajan Vatassery, Satwik Mysore, and Zach Petroski met while tutoring and mentoring students in Minneapolis, MN. In the course of their volunteer work, they noticed that students living in affordable housing units who had goals of pursuing higher education were at a financial disadvantage and may not be able to purchase computers, textbooks, or even something as simple as stationery. The Leadership Scholarship was conceived to provide an opportunity for students whose families have received housing assistance
| Zach Petroski | | Rajan Vatassery | | Satwik Mysore | | Sonika Vadhera |
| Co-Chair | | Co-Chair | | Co-Chair | | Co-Chair |
