Leaders win nationally-competitive scholarships. Some students lead by holding elected offices on campus. Some lead by forming new student organizations. Some lead by taking action, on their own, to solve a community problem. Some lead by conducting innovative research.

Most scholarship selection committees take a broad approach in how they define leadership. But no matter how it is defined, leadership always involves having a vision and taking action. You can display leadership in a variety of ways.

• Become a mentor for the Collaborative Learning Center
• Hold an elected office in a living group or student organization
• Serve as captain of an athletic team
• Become a peer-contact through Student Support Services
• Organize a new club on campus to get other students involved
• Tutor or coach K-12 students
• Represent the student body on a faculty committee or on the Alumni Board
• Run for Student Senate
• Become a Resident Assistant
• Find a summer job or internship that includes some managerial responsibilities
• Volunteer with community organizations that will allow you to take lead on a project

No matter what kinds of groups and activities you involve yourself with, the key to real leadership is using your role to make a difference. How can you use your skills and talents to make the group better, to serve the community, to improve the world?

Set ambitious goals for yourself and document your progress toward achieving them. That record of success will be powerful evidence of your leadership skills when presented as part of a scholarship application.