Future University of Findlay students gathered at Winebrenner Theological Seminary for the Leadership Scholarship Competition on Jan. 25, 2025, participating in team-building activities and interviews in hopes of receiving a full-tuition scholarship. The University has hosted the Leadership Scholarship Competition, one of three University-funded scholarships, for over a decade.

Through the Leadership Scholarship Competition, the University recognizes and rewards students who demonstrate outstanding leadership and community service. To participate, students must have a minimum of 22 ACT, 1110 SAT, or a GPA of 4.0 or higher.

Applicants engaged in group activities overseen by faculty members from each College and interviewed with student volunteers, who observed the competing students for notable leadership traits. Four student interviewers asked each applicant 12 questions total – two about career aspirations and goals, and one testing critical thinking skills.

Current students who previously competed for the scholarship shared how they found the event valuable, even if they didn’t win.

Reagan Resor, a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in physician assistant studies and one of the student interviewers, participated in the scholarship competition in 2019 as an undergraduate after her tennis coach encouraged her to apply.

“I think it did help me in the long run with interviewing,” Resor said, adding it was good practice when she later interviewed for her graduate program. She also said she enjoyed connecting to the next generation of Oilers, offering guidance, and talking about the University’s programs.

First-year pharmacy student Stephanie Leon-Torres partook in the Leadership Scholarship event last year and said she thought it “would be cool to be on the other side of things” as an interviewer, helping introduce next year’s students to Findlay’s culture, classes, and dorms. Though the opportunity to have your tuition fully covered is great, Leon-Torres said meeting current students and professors you might work with in the future was also beneficial: “Even if you don’t win the scholarship, that’s a bonus.”

The University awards a $1,500 scholarship to all students who fully participate in the event. However, Director of Undergraduate Admissions Erin Randall agreed that students can get more out of the event than just the potential to win tuition money.

“We have created these days to not only have the students compete for a scholarship, but to familiarize themselves on campus and to meet other future Oilers. In between sessions, students have the opportunity to talk with other students and meet potential friends that they will see again when they arrive back to campus in August,” said Randall. “One of the sessions the students partake in on this day is ‘Discover Your Campus.’ Our student ambassadors use this time to ask fun trivia questions and have the students ask them questions about their time at UF. The students also have a chance to do a quick tour of campus and our demo dorm.”

Of the 107 students who participated in the event in January, only one will receive a full-tuition scholarship. Another Leadership Scholarship Competition event will take place on Feb. 22 to determine the second winner. The University will notify winners within two weeks of each competition event.

Qualifying students and students interested in learning more about the University of Findlay can visit findlay.edu.

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