Scholarships
Each semester, various esteemed organizations make various scholarship and recognition opportunities available exclusively to LEAD Scholars. Please note that LEAD Scholars who receive a scholarship from the program during a specific semester may not be awarded an additional scholarship during the same semester from the list below (the Business and Rotary Scholarships are not awarded by LEAD Scholars so these scholarships may be awarded in addition to LEAD Scholars Academy scholarships).
Apply for scholarships here
NOTE: LEAD Scholars who receive a scholarship from the program during a specific semester may not be awarded an additional scholarship during the same semester from the list below (the Business and Rotary Scholarships are not awarded by LEAD Scholars so these scholarships may be awarded in addition to LEAD Scholars Academy scholarships).
Unfortunately DACA, TSA or Political Asylum applicant students (or other students who are not eligible for financial aid) are ineligible to receive LEAD foundation scholarships.
University Club of Orlando Scholarship
Deadline: 1/16/25 in spring
This $2800 scholarship is given to a first-year LEAD Scholar in the spring and is renewable for a second year. Students must be a permanent resident of Orange, Seminole, Volusia, or Osceola County. (eligible award recipients are notified individually)
Thomas Messina ’84 Leadership Scholarship
Deadline: 2/6/2025 in spring
1 non-renewable award for $1000 for 2 current LEAD Scholars. Scholarship will be awarded to a UCF undergraduate student who is a LEAD Scholar (1st or 2nd year or U-LEAD participant) and also active in a social Greek organization. Applicants must be active members of an IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC or DGC chapter.
A one page personal statement/essay discussing:
- Your personal leadership contributions at UCF through your Greek organization.
- Explain how leadership studies knowledge, gained through LEAD Scholars Academy, may be applied to your leadership role within your Greek organization.
- A current resume.
One letter of recommendation which address your Greek leadership experience from an alumni advisor affiliated with your chapter.
Bill and Ksenia Merck Endowed Scholarship
Deadline: 2/20/25 in spring
The Bill and Ksenia Merck Endowed Scholarship was created in 2000 for eligible first-year LEAD Scholars to be used for tuition, fees, books and other educational expenses. The scholarship is a one-time award of $1000.
To qualify for the scholarship you must:
- Have or maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative UCF GPA to be eligible.
- Be a full-time 1st year student enrolled in the LEAD Scholars Academy.
- Be in good standing with the LEAD Scholars Academy.
- Submit a completed application.
Please attach:
- A one page personal statement/essay discussing the following:
- Your personal contributions at UCF toward one or more of the five goals for UCF. Please list specific actions or activities which you have initiated have been involved in and the specific UCF goal to which they contribute. The 5 goals for UCF can be found here.
- A personal leadership experience and how it has affected your views on leadership.
- A current resume including your leadership and community involvement.
- Two letters of recommendation that address your community service and/or leadership experience. Please choose faculty members, professional staff members, or non-profit organization leaders.
Mary G. Hitt Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Deadline: 3/6/2025 in spring
(1 non-renewable award for $750 for 3 students. Students may be first-year, second-year or U-LEAD students in good standing)
To qualify for the scholarship you must:
- Have or maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative UCF GPA to be eligible.
- Be a full-time 1st year, 2nd year or U-LEAD student enrolled in the LEAD Scholars Academy.
- Be in good standing with the LEAD Scholars Academy.
- Submit a completed application.
- A one page personal statement/essay discussing:
- Your personal contributions at UCF toward one or more of the five goals for UCF. Please list specific actions or activities which you have initiated or in which you have been involved and the goal to which they contribute. The 5 goals for UCF can be found here.
- A personal leadership experience and how it has affected your views on leadership.
- A current resume.
- Two letters of recommendation which address your community service experience and your commitment to community involvement.
Henry Landwirth Award and Scholarship
Deadline: 3/27/25 in spring
Purpose & History
The scholarship is a one-time award of $500 and the recipient will also be given a statue.
Henri Landwirth is one of Orlando and the nation’s most distinguished individuals. One of the youngest survivors of the Holocaust, Landwirth was separated from his family while still a boy. He lost his father and mother and survived five years in the concentration camps before finding freedom. After the war, with the help of relatives who loaned him passage, Henri made his way to the United States. Within three months of his arrival in New York, he was surprised to find himself drafted to fight in Korea.
When he was released, Henri studied hotel management under the GI Bill. He worked as a bellhop, a desk clerk, and a night manager before being offered a chance to manage a hotel in a little place called Cape Canaveral. The Starlight Motel, as it was known, was the first hotel at the Cape. It was soon to become famous as the “home away from home’ for the Mercury 7 astronauts.
As he became increasingly successful, Henri sought ways to give back, creating the Fanny Landwirth Foundation for seniors, helping establish the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation for promising students, and founding Give Kids the World for terminally ill children.
Over 40,000 terminally ill children from around the world have visited Give Kids the World since it was created. These children and their families stay at the 56-acre resort Henri Landwirth created for them, dine in a Gingerbread house, and play in the Castle of Miracles. They visit Disney, Universal Studios, Seaworld, and all the other major area attractions during a six-day vacation, thanks to Henri Landwirth, Give Kids the World, and their corporate sponsors.
The Recipient
The LEAD Scholar student who best exemplifies the values stated above and demonstrated by Henri Landwirth will be selected annually for the Heart of UCF Award. The recipient will receive a bronze sculpture created by nationally known sculptor, Frank Eliscu, designer of the Heisman Trophy, the Oval Office’s Presidential Eagle, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Criteria
Please attach:
- A one page personal statement/essay discussing your personal community service experience and how it has affected your views on leadership.
- Two letters of recommendation which address your community service experience and your commitment to community involvement.
- A current resume.
To qualify for the scholarship you must:
- Have a minimum 3.5 cumulative UCF GPA.
- Be a full-time student enrolled in the LEAD Scholars Academy.
- Be in good standing with the LEAD Scholars Academy.
- Address the above described criteria.
The Freddy Armfield Curley Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Deadline: Fall – 11/1/2024; 4/10/2025 in spring
The Freddy Armfield Curley Memorial Endowed Scholarship was created in 2015 for eligible first or second year LEAD Scholars Academy Academic Program students to be used for tuition, fees, books and other educational expenses.
The scholarship will be a $500 award in the fall. We will also offer a $500 award in the spring. We will have a separate application for the spring award.
Please attach:
- A one page personal statement/essay discussing your personal contributions towards civic engagement.
- A current resume including your leadership and community involvement.
- One letter of recommendation that address your community service and/or leadership experience. Please choose faculty members, professional staff members, or non-profit organization leaders.
LEAD Study Abroad to South Africa
Scholarship
Deadline: Contact the staff to determine availability
This scholarship will be awarded to a LEAD Scholar (1st, 2nd year, or U-LEAD past or present) who has demonstrated an interest in studying aboard as part of LDR 3955 Study Abroad in South Africa. Successful applicants will be able to articulate how they will benefit from a study abroad experience that is service focused and requires participation in both a course and several weeks on site in South Africa. Students will be asked to describe a project they hope to implement as part of the class.
Student must have a 3.0 GPA and be in good-standing with the LEAD Scholars Academy.
Scholarships not offered this year:
University Club of Winter Park Scholarship
Deadline: Not currently offered
The University Club of Winter Park Scholarship was created in 2015 for eligible first or second year LEAD Scholars Academy students (2nd year through 4th years) to be used for tuition, fees, books and other educational expenses.
The scholarship will be a $500 award in the spring. The recipient must have financial need and a 3.0 or higher GPA. A selected number of applicants will be asked to interview for the scholarship in front of the selection committee.
Please attach:
- A one page personal statement/essay discussing your personal contributions towards civic engagement and/or leadership
- A current resume including your leadership and community involvement.
- One letter of recommendation that address your community service and/or leadership experience. Please choose faculty members, professional staff members, or non-profit organization leaders.
Dr. Stacey Malaret Future of Leadership
Deadline: Not currently offered
This scholarship will be awarded to a LEAD Scholar (1st, 2nd year, or U-LEAD past or present) who has demonstrated a way to become a social change agent at UCF or in our community. Successful applicants will be able to articulate how they have identified a problem in our community and have successfully executed (or have a detailed plan in place) to solve the stated problem.
Student must have a 3.5 GPA and be in good-standing with the LEAD Scholars Academy.