High School Leadership Awards
The awards recognize the region’s high school students who embody Widener’s commitment to develop and inspire leaders who affect positive change.
For the past 12 years, Widener University has partnered with other high school administrators in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware the opportunity to acknowledge and honor the region’s best and brightest future leaders who take it upon themselves to make a significant difference in their schools and communities.
This award program is designed to recognize high school students in the region, in their junior year, who have demonstrated leadership by standing up for what is right, finding a way to address a wrong, or making a significant difference in their schools or communities. Selected students will be honored and recognized during a special celebration held at the National Constitution Center.
How does the nomination process work?
- Step #1 – A high school principal, administrator, or guidance counselor nominates a deserving student from the junior class with a demonstrated track record of leadership by submitting an application online on our website.
- Step #2 – After a nomination is submitted, a confirmation will be sent to the nominated student, who will then submit an application online on our website.
When are the winners selected?
Award winners are selected by the Widener University High School Leadership Awards Committee in the fall and announced in early February.
What do award winners receive?
If the selected student leader enrolls at Widener University as an undergraduate student, then they will take part in our Apogee Leadership Scholars Program. Our Apogee Scholars receive a $20,000 scholarship over four years, and access to four years of leadership programming, including a Widener Leadership Certificate.
How do students qualify for the $20,000 scholarship?
Students are qualified for the $20,000 scholarship after their completed forms and essays have been submitted. Once confirmed, students who apply, are accepted to Widener, and commit to the Apogee Scholar Leadership Program, will automatically receive the first installment of their $20,000 scholarship upon enrollment.
Next Steps
Principals and administrators in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are encouraged to nominate one current high school junior who exhibits strong leadership skills, academic excellence, and exceptional character by completing the HSLA Nomination Form. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, December 16, 2022.
Leadership and a commitment to foster positive change in the school and community can be shown through activities such as taking a leadership role in extracurricular activities, volunteering for a purpose, and/or demonstrating an intentional positive influence on their peers and associates.
Only one high school junior in good academic standing is eligible to be nominated from each school. Students may be nominated even if the school does not calculate GPA. Principals and administrators must submit the Principal Nomination Form.
If you have been formally nominated, the awards committee will contact you and provide instructions for you to complete your student application form.
Once you receive confirmation of your nomination, you must complete the student application form below. The deadline for the student application form is Friday, January 13, 2023.
Additional information to RSVP for the 2023 High School Leadership Awards event will be available by February 1.