Skip to main content
Santa Clara University Homepage
Santa Clara University
The LEAD Scholars Program

The LEAD Scholars Program is a program for first-generation college students (students whose parents did not graduate from a 4-year college or university) focused on academic success and community engagement. 

This program is open to both first-year students and transfer students with the goal of supporting them throughout their college career.

LEAD Scholars

  1. Home
  2. LEAD Scholars

 

Welcome to the LEAD Scholars Program

Thank you for your interest in the LEAD Scholars Program! The LEAD Scholars Program is a program for first-generation college students (students whose parents did not graduate from a 4-year college or university) focused on academic success and community engagement. The LEAD Scholars Program provides academic and vocational development opportunities, holistic advising, peer mentoring, and community building through a variety of courses, programs, and support networks. 

For most students, participation in the LEAD Scholars Program begins in their first year at SCU to ensure a smooth transition into SCU from their previous high school or higher education institution. The program continues through senior year by supporting students' vocational development and connecting them to internships, study abroad, graduate school and leadership opportunities. 

All admitted first-generation college students are informed about the program soon after they are admitted to the university, and are asked to indicate their interest. Based on this information, students are then selected keeping in mind the goal to create a diverse community in terms of backgrounds and experiences.

Students who are first-generation college students who are already attending SCU, can also participate in the LEAD Scholars Program by entering at Level 2 through a short application process.

If you are a first-generation college student, and will be or are currently attending SCU, and would like to find out more information about the program or would like to express your interest in the program, please contact us at 408-554-4439.

Thank you to US Bank!

US Bank

US Bank recently made a generous donation of $5000 to support the LEAD Scholars Program. This funding will be used to support vocational exploration programming for our students to develop a better sense of what they may want to pursue after college, including industry site visits, alumni mentoring circles, and our alumni panels. 

IME-Becas-Logo
We are incredibly grateful to the Mexican Consulate of San Jose which awarded us a fourth IME Becas Grant of $15,000. This grant will be used to support our Koret Fellowship Program [include a link here to the Koret Fellows page] which funds students to participate in study abroad, unpaid internships, undergraduate research, community-based learning, conference attendance, immersions, and other developmental opportunities. 

Congratulations to our Coca Cola Last Mile Scholarship Recipients!

Coca Cola Recipient Bio

This year we awarded 10 juniors and seniors $5,000 scholarships each to help them complete their degrees at SCU. Thank you to the Coca Cola Scholarship for their generous support. Read more about our Coca Cola Scholarship Recipients.

Congratulations to our 2016-17 Koret Fellows!

With generous support from the Koret Foundation, the IME Becas Program through the Mexican Consulate, Parents Alliance and private donors, the LEAD Scholars Program awarded almost $90,000 in fellowships to 35 students to support participation in conferences, unpaid internships, study abroad and undergraduate research, summer courses, and immersion and other community-based learning travel. Read more about our Koret Fellows' experiences!

Thank you for your Day of Giving Support!

Thank you to everyone who supported LEAD during SCU's Day of Giving! On March 8th, 63 alumni, parents and friends donated $4650 to support LEAD's Microgrant and Fellowships Program which help students with basic living and educational needs, and participation in high-impact co-curricular activities like unpaid internships, undergraduate research and study abroad. Please considering making a gift to our Microgrant and Fellowships Program.