As a student in the WLAP, you will take a special section of the course COAD 1000, a class all freshmen are encouraged to take that helps with the transition to university life. For taking this course, you will receive 1 credit hour. Our section focuses on personal development, study skills, leaving home, and other transition issues all freshmen face, the same as all other COAD1000 sections. Our section also focuses deeply on leadership.
All students in the Williams Leadership Awards Program are required to live on-campus in Jarvis Leadership Hall. In Jarvis, you will be part of a learning community of other students interested in being better leaders. You will also be assigned a mentor who has been through the program before. They are there to assist you if you have questions or give you guidance that you may not want to discuss with staff members. We have several events throughout the year that allow everyone to socialize with all the mentors.
At the beginning of the semester, all students participate in an opening retreat. Last year we traveled to the Easter 4-H Center in Columbia, NC, where we took part in a day of ropes/challenge courses, used the climbing wall, and went sea-kayaking. This is your first opportunity to really meet each other and learn about our year.
In the Spring semester, much of our focus is on community service. Students are encourage to work in groups to design and implement a community service project. This is more than just completing volunteer hours - it is an idea of your own, brought to life to make a difference in the community.
We hope you will consider joining us. Students must have a 3.0/4.0 unweighted GPA and a minimum score of 1000 on the Math and Verbal sections of the SAT, or an equivalent ACT score.
Information for Parents:
The Williams Leadership Awards Program is the perfect opportunity for your student to transition to East Carolina University in a welcoming environment. The WLAP provides each student with an upperclass mentor that can help them in selecting courses, finding their way around campus, and preparing for program events. Our program also provides your student with a group of students with similar experiences and interests to bond with during their transition to college.
Students in the WLAP meet many helpful staff and community members through the program, including ECU administrators, program sponsors Walter and Marie Williams, and numerous other people who assist by leading workshops and class discussions. The program is a great networking tool and has produced successful educators, business leaders, medical professionals, and leaders in various industries. On campus, program participants move on to leadership positions in organizations such as the Student Activities Board, Ambassadors, and the Student Government Association. We have even produced a two-time Student Body President.
Encourage your student to apply for our program today. They will receive extensive leadership training, a $1000 scholarship, and 1 hour of credit for participating.
Information for Teachers and Counselors:
Counselors and teachers are our biggest assets in recruiting new students. We ask you to encourage your students to apply for the Williams Leadership Award each year. All students from eastern North Carolina who have been accepted to ECU should receive an invitation to apply. This scholarship provides a $1000 scholarship and allows each student to participate in a cutting-edge leadership development program. Interested students should have a 3.0/4.0 grade point average (unweighted) and a minimum 1000 on the Math and Verbal sections of the SAT. They should also have demonstrated leadership potential in their school and/or community.
Remember, students should be committed to attending East Carolina University. Also, students receiving the NC Teaching Fellows scholarship, EC Scholars, or other programs that also require the students to take a special section of COAD 1000 and/or require placement in a residence hall other than Jarvis are not eligible. There is no longer a limit on the number of applicants per school. Students do not have to be nominated by their schools, but are responsible for submitting their application online.
Program History:
The Williams Leadership Awards Program came to East Carolina University during the 1999-2000 school year. The program's intent was to teach leadership skills through hands-on practice of leadership. While other programs like this existed in what was then called the Office of Student Leadership Development Programs, none lasted a full year, and none came with the same offer of scholarship money. Sponsorship was necessary, and university officials approached Mr. Walter Williams, founder of Trade Oil Company, due to his extensive support of ECU and his vision for developing students to make a difference in eastern North Carolina. Mr. Williams and his wife, Marie, have provided this generous support for over a decade.
Through the years, the program has adapted to better meet the needs of our students. It has moved towards providing training in leadership theory and opportunities to put what is learned to use in the community. In 2005, a section of COAD 1000 was created for students in the Williams Leadership Awards Program.
Program Alumni:
Students in the Williams Leadership Awards Program have moved on to many other exciting opportunities, including other leadership programs at ECU such as the Emerging Leaders Program, LeaderSHAPE, the Student Activities Board, and the Student Government Association. One alumnus has even served as East Carolina University's Student Body President.
When asked what the Williams Leadership Awards Program meant to them, most program participants will quickly tell you that it made a dramatic difference in their time at ECU - providing guidance about more than just class work, and pairing them with the personal support they needed to be the most successful students possible.
Do I Qualify?
In order to qualify for the The Walter and Marie Williams Leadership Awards Program you must reside in one of the following counties:
Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrell, Washington, Wayne, Wilson.
Important Dates:
Applications available 12/15/2012
Applications Due: 3/1/2013, 5pm
Interviews: April 6,2012 (Afternoon following ECU Open House)
*Interviews are by invite only. Invitations will be sent out after the 3/1/2013 deadline.
Do I Qualify?
In order to qualify for the The Walter and Marie Williams Leadership Awards Program you must reside in one of the following cHow to Apply:
Questions regarding the The Walter and Marie Williams Leadership Awards Program should be directed to Laura McMaster mcmasterl@ecu.edu
ATTN: The Walter and Marie Williams Leadership Awards Program
