Illinois Tech M. A. and Lila Self Leadership Academy Scholarship Program 2025

Named for University Regent Al Self and his wife, Lila, the M. A. and Lila Self Leadership Academy Scholarship is a distinguished and prestigious award given to the top applicants to the university that demonstrate exceptional leadership potential. The Selfs provided the founding gift to the Leadership Academy in 2000, and it allows the Leadership Academy to provide up to four incoming first-year students with scholarships.

The Leadership Academy is composed of 30 undergraduates and is led by Executive Director George M. Langlois and Program Manager Alexandra. In addition to funding 30 undergraduates. The academy is an educational initiative aimed at developing the leadership potential of all Illinois Tech students. 

Additional benefits to Leadership Academy Scholarship recipients include exclusive leadership opportunities on campus and in the Chicago area, networking luncheons and dinners, experiential leadership development and training, and social bonding with fellow Leadership Academy Scholars. Leadership Academy Scholars will also receive a certificate in leadership studies upon successful completion of the academy’s programs and activities.

• Table of Content
• About Illinois Institute of Technology
• Illinois Tech Leadership Academy Scholarship Program
• Aim and Benefits of Illinois Tech Leadership Academy Scholarship Program
• Requirements for Illinois Tech Leadership Academy Scholarship Program Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Illinois Tech Leadership Academy Scholarship Program
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Illinois Institute of Technology

Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, Illinois Tech is the only technology-focused university in the city. It offers degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law.  In 1890 Illinois Institute of Technology was founded to lift up people from all backgrounds with education that would help them meet the needs of the age. Rankings based on the United States Department of Education College Scorecard, which offers the public access to years of federal government data on U.S. colleges and universities, show that more tha... continue reading

Illinois Tech Leadership Academy Scholarship Program

Aim and Benefits of Illinois Tech Leadership Academy Scholarship Program

• Full-tuition scholarship in the initial year of admittance to the academy. For each year following the first, students are only required to cover any annual increase to tuition. Students are eligible for up to four years of undergraduate tuition; five years if the student is in the architecture program.
• Exclusive leadership opportunities on-campus and in the Chicago area, networking luncheons and dinners, experiential leadership development and training, and social cohesion with fellow Leadership Academy Scholars
• Certificate in Leadership Studies upon successful completion of the Academy’s programs and activities

Requirements for Illinois Tech Leadership Academy Scholarship Program Qualification

• This applies only to full-time undergraduate students at Illinois Tech
• Satisfactory academic progress (defined in the Illinois Tech Student Handbook as a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in each semester) is required
• Annual renewal of the scholarship is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and attendance at all Leadership Academy-sponsored programs, including but not limited to Saturday leadership seminars, regular scholar meetings, and sophomore leadership retreats
• Scholars are required to actively participate in a committee of their choosing to support the development of the Leadership Academy program
• Scholars are required to contribute 10 hours of service per semester to community service projects that are officially sponsored by the Leadership Academy
• All scholars must also adhere to university-wide codes of conduct; students who are accused and found guilty of conduct not in keeping with the code of conduct are subject to dismissal from the academy

Interview date, Process and Venue for Illinois Tech Leadership Academy Scholarship Program

Students who are selected as finalists for the Leadership Academy Scholarship will be required to participate in a final interview, which takes place on campus the Saturday of Scholarship Symposium in early February.

All Early Decision and Early Action applicants will receive the link to the scholarship application in early November.

Timeline:

• November 15: Leadership Academy application due along with application to Illinois Institute of Technology
• December: Leadership Academy finalists are notified
• Early February: Leadership Academy finalists will participate in an in-person interview at Scholarship Symposium
• Late February: Leadership Academy Scholars recipients will be notified of their selection
• April 1: Decision deadline to accept Leadership Academy Scholarship
• May 1: Confirm enrollment to Illinois Tech

Interview Itinerary

Students will be selected by Leadership Academy staff to interview virtually in early February. Students also interviewing for Camras, Duchossois, and/or Crown scholarships will be required to interview in person.

Your interview is an experiential one: Leadership Academy staff will contact you to schedule your Leadership Experience for Assessment and Development (LEAD) appointment, which is a four-hour assessment center simulation.

• Center for Research and Service staff will provide all participants with an individual feedback report from their LEAD session
• Students chosen as finalists from the assessment center will then interview in person with the Leadership Academy staff at the Leadership Symposium in February.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Leadership Academy scholarship candidates must apply to Illinois Tech and must submit the following to the Office of Undergraduate Admission no later than November 15:

• Apply via the Early Decision I (binding) or Early Action I (non-binding) application deadline
• Complete and submit an application for regular admission through the Common Application
• Complete and submit the Leadership Academy Scholarship Application

For more details, visit Illinois Tech website