Ignatian Leaders Scholarship

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THE SCHOLARSHIP

Each recipient of this scholarship will receive an award of $20,000 ($5,000 annually over four continuous years). This scholar­ship is offered over and above any other grant or scholarship that the University provides. Thus, for a top academic scholar, the Ignatian Leaders Scholarship could impact his/her financial aid as follows:

              Trustees’ Scholarship                       $14,000
               Ignatian Leaders Scholarship          $5,000
              Gonzaga Grant Funding                   $5,952
                                                                       ___________  
               Institutional Funding                        $24,952

*Amount provided for illustration only using last year’s award amounts; individual awards will vary. Gonzaga Grant funding is based on financial need.

THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

The Ignatian Leaders Scholarship was established to recognize and honor twenty (20) incoming first-year students whose commitment to academic excellence, leadership potential, and community service is evident in their high school and pre-collegiate involvement. Ten of the selected scholars will be women, and ten will be men.

The Ignatian Leaders Scholarship takes its name from Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits). Ignatius was born in 1491 in Azpeitia, a town in northern Spain. In his youth, he fashioned himself a romantic courtier and soldier, but an injury he suffered in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521 changed his life forever. While recuperating from his injury, Ignatius underwent a religious conversion and pledged himself to the service of God. Following years of preparation and education, Ignatius was ordained a Catholic priest, and with the blessing of Pope Paul III, he and a group of men formed the Society of Jesus in 1540. Ignatius’ vision, practical guidance, and charisma earned the Jesuits many followers, and it is in recognition of his extraordinary vision and leadership that this scholarship bears his name. Gonzaga University proudly celebrates its heritage as one of twenty-eight Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States.

THE COMPETITION

The Ignatian Leaders Scholarship is a competitive scholarship: that is, out of the total number of eligible, complete applications postmarked by January 10, 2012, 40 finalists will be invited to Gonzaga to participate in a two-day (overnight) visit. The ILS Competition Weekend will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 10th and ends at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 11th. Invitees must participate in the ILS Competition Weekend to be eligible for further consideration.

Invited finalists will be hosted on campus and at our lovely Bozarth Retreat Center for the weekend. All meals, materials, and housing requirements (including separate housing for men and women) will be provided by the University. However, invited participants are expected to travel to and from the Competition Weekend at their own expense. A limited number of need-based travel stipends will be offered to those finalists who indicate that the travel distance is cost-prohibitive. Additional information regarding the Competition Weekend will be provided to finalists when they are notified of their selection. Supervisor

CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILTY

To qualify for the Ignatian Leaders Scholarship Competition, the applicant must:

  • Have a completed Admission Application on file at the University as of January 10, 2012. You may apply for the ILS before receiving your GU admission decision.
  • Have a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.5 at the completion of the fall term of his or her senior year.
  • Qualified applicants will have: a desire to pursue leadership opportunities in their collegiate life, a commitment to academic achievement, and a commitment to community service.
  • An applicant must also complete the Ignatian Leaders Scholarship Application (including a letter demonstrating the above criteria, as well as two letters of recommendation). More detailed information is provided on the application form.

SELF-NOMINATION

If you feel that you meet the above criteria and wish to nominate yourself for the Ignatian Leaders Scholarship, please e-mail ilscholarship@gonzaga.edu to briefly explain your past experiences with leadership, academics, and community service and request an application.