The Shelton Scholars Program

The Shelton Scholars Program

Program Overview

The Shelton Scholars Program is a four-year, cohort-based opportunity for students to develop their skills as values-based leaders. The program is structured so scholars will learn how to leverage their academic skills and interest in service to pursue meaningful post-baccalaureate experiences. Three scholarships are awarded each year, and recipients will participate in colloquies, experiences in service learning, and personal mentoring focused on leadership development for professional success.

In the program, scholars will engage in the ethical practices of service-learning and understand how to synthesize their academic training and professional aspirations to become effective, civic-minded leaders in their vocational realms. With the intention of preparing scholars to be competitive applicants for post-baccalaureate opportunities emphasis has been placed on the civic responsibilities of values-based leaders, which will provide students with the space to consider their own leadership and ethical framework within the broader context of the modern professional and international society. With additional professional development, international experiential-learning opportunities, and a robust curriculum, scholars will develop the skills, self-awareness, and ethical frameworks to be successful, well-educated, service-oriented, values-based leaders.

Program Structure & Learning Outcomes

The program is built on a scaffolded curriculum that consists of seven key components: (1) summits, (2) colloquies, (3) one-on-one mentor meetings, (4) the CLDP-Scholars International Trip, (5) the International Professional Development Trip, (6) a weekend of service-learning, and (7) supplemental professional development opportunities.

Students who successfully complete the four-year Shelton Scholars Program will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast theories of community-focused and service-oriented leadership; 
2. Utilize their personal values, academic studies, and service-interest in pursuit of their professional aspirations;
3. Exhibit and promote ethical community engagement practices, domestically and internationally, in the service of others; 
4. Describe and apply a personal ethical framework in a professional context;  
5. Explain the leadership role of the university and its associated figures within the broader society; 
6. Compose competitive application materials for post-baccalaureate opportunities in the public, private, and/or nonprofit professional sectors;  
7. Gain the reflective self-awareness to articulate their roles and responsibilities in society as well-educated, service-oriented, values-based leaders. 

Ideal Applicant

Pursuant to our goals of the program, we seek applicants who are intellectually curious, motivated to improve their communities, and keenly focused on personal development. Applicants should have a demonstrable history of community engagement efforts, instances of leadership, and interest in academic pursuits. 

We recognize that students come from different backgrounds and opportunities and do not all have access to the same resources. In this regard, we seek applicants with substantive examples of meaningful and consequential leadership and community impact who can explain the significance of their efforts, the sincerity of their motivations, and how they plan to further develop their leadership.

Application Process

Students who are admitted to NC State will see the application in their PackAssist profile. The application consists of two supplemental essay questions and is due by 11:59pm EST on Thursday, February 15. After a review period, twelve finalists will be invited for an in-person interview and presentation with our selection committee on Friday, March 22nd. Students will be notified in early March via email (the email account used for the admission application) if they are invited to attend the final interviews.