Homecoming kings and queens, class presidents, all-Americans, and other accomplished high school students visited campus last Thursday, May 29, ready to compete for a full ride to Hillsdale College.
Leadership Weekend, a spin-off of Hillsdale’s Distinct Scholars Weekend, was designed by Admissions Counselor Andrea Clark ’06 in order to give students with stellar extracurriculars a chance to earn a full-tuition scholarship.
“During Distinct Scholars Weekend, we look primarily at academics in the applicant pool,” Admissions Counselor Shannon McCleary ’10 said. “For leadership weekend, we looked at the strongest resume, strong leadership qualities, and involvement in their schools, communities, and churches.”
The original group had 20 students but after one dropped out at the last minute, 19 students competed.
They didn’t disappoint.
“They’re the type of people everyone wants to be friends with,” McCleary said. “They’re really charismatic. They’re the type that gets things done.”
The schedule of the competition is designed similarly to DSW.
After arriving on campus Thursday, the students met for a mixer to meet each other and their hosts. Junior Scott Rhode, who hosted one of the students, said he was impressed by all 19 of them.
“These people were involved in everything,” Rhode said.
The competitors spent Friday attending lectures by Professor of History Burt Folsom, Assistant Professor of History Terrence Moore, Professor of Business Law Bob Blackstock and Associate Professor of English Stephen Smith, who spoke on historical Hillsdale leaders, George Washington, Alexander the Great, and Hamlet.
Then the competition began. Students were asked to write an essay on the lectures. Shortly afterward they were divided into four groups and posed questions such as “What problems do teens face today?” and “What are problems leaders face?”
That night senior Josiah Hersey, the Niedfeldt Residence house director and former Delta Tau Delta fraternity president, adressed the group.
“My speech was about looking at leadership from an academic standpoint,” Hersey said. “How it helps enrich you and those around you. [The students] said it resonated well with the things they were hearing.”
The students spent the rest of the weekend presenting their projects, having interviews, and hanging out with President Larry Arnn. Arnn invited the group over for dinner and college basketball Saturday night.
Admissions is still reviewing its results, and no scholarship has been awarded to date.
The stakes are high, as the applicants’ current tuition packages range from half scholarships to none at all.
McCleary highlighted the innovative approach to the new event, which focused on extracurriculars rather than academics.
“It’s unique to invite students based on resume,” McCleary said.
McCleary said the event is also smaller than comparable events at many other schools, which often invite as many as 100 students.
While not all the applicants have confirmed they will be attending in the fall, Rhode hopes they will.
“Things they stood for will make them a great part of Hillsdale,” he said.
