UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) has begun its yearly application process. A certificate program, the PLA annually selects 30 first-year students who aim to think, act and lead through experience.
Any current first-year University Park student with a GPA of 3.2 or above may apply to PLA. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 10. Penn State faculty and staff may nominate qualified first-year students online by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27. More information is available on the PLA website.
“The Presidential Leadership Academy is a unique opportunity for students," said program director Melissa Doberstein. "Each cohort has students from across academic majors and all students share their own unique experiences and backgrounds with one another. That creates tremendous chances for enhancing each student’s learning.”
In addition to PLA coursework, students attend leadership seminars, engage in community programs, and participate in fully funded field trips planned each semester that aim to shed light on social, political and environmental issues.
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi teaches a weekly seminar course for new students, with additional honors courses led by Patrick Mather, dean of the Schreyer Honors College, and Doberstein focused on leadership development. The final year in PLA concludes with the creation of an e-portfolio project.
According to current PLA students, the most impactful part of the academy is the community it creates.
"Joining the PLA was one of the best decisions that I made during my time at Penn State," said Madison Borkovich, a fourth-year student and PLA intern studying human-centered design and development and film production. "Between classes, speakers and programming, trips, and discussions, PLA is extremely enriching. Generous grants have helped to stimulate my performance outside of the classroom, and the work experience I have gained from web and social media, administrative planning, recruitment, and writing and content curation are invaluable."
Benjamin Brauser, a second-year student, provides advice and encouragement for potential applicants. "As a first-year student, there are few other opportunities as impactful [for you] as the Presidential Leadership Academy,” he said. “This organization and the close friendships that I have forged define my Penn State experience and have opened doors I never knew existed.”
Incoming PLA students can expect coursework and experiences that emphasize civility, philanthropy, respect for diversity, and student engagement. Multiple dimensions of issues are explored, wide-ranging viewpoints are encouraged and heard, and fully informed and respectful discourse ensues, often leading to sound action.
PLA was established in 2009 with a gift from Edward R. and Helen S. Hintz to develop critical-thinking and educate selected students in personal, global and cultural spheres. Each year, a diverse class joins the academy to consider the complexity and variability of world matters and current events. PLA values the idea that critical thinking on issues is not black or white, but instead, somewhere in the gray.
Information sessions for interested students will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, in Room C-9 in Atherton Hall, and from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, on Zoom. Registration is required for the Zoom session.
All questions and inquiries about nominations and applications may be directed to Doberstein via email at mif3@psu.edu.