Wayne State University
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Detroit Leadership Award

Award for incoming first-year undergraduates - fall 2025

The Detroit Leadership Award is up to $5,000 per year for up to four consecutive years. This award is offered to select incoming first-year undergraduates who have shown an ability to excel in the academic arena and who are engaged in their communities through service and leadership.

Award requirements

  • Graduate from a high school in Macomb, Oakland or Wayne County or one of these Michigan cities: Flint, Saginaw, Ypsilanti or Grand Rapids
  • For maximum scholarship consideration, you must complete the undergraduate admission application (including submission of all transcripts and optional test scores) by December 1, 2024
  • The final deadline for scholarship consideration is April 1, 2025
  • This award is for fall and winter semesters and is disbursed only to students who attend full-time.

To apply

  • Submit a personal essay and a letter of recommendation by April 1, 2025
    • Submit a 500-word personal essay that offers insight into your community involvement through service, leadership or both
    • Request a letter of recommendation from an academic contact (teacher, school counselor, principal, etc.) or a community member (pastor, youth leader, community leader, etc.) who can provide insight into your community service and/or leadership involvement.

To retain the award

  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Maintain full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours per semester) during the fall and winter semesters
  • Pass at least 30 credits per academic year
  • If you earn a bachelor's degree in less than four years, your scholarship will terminate at that time

Complete the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for all available funding. 

Only citizens of the United States and eligible non-citizens need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for other available funding.

This scholarship may be replaced or supplemented with an endowed scholarship for which you are identified as an eligible recipient. All awards are subject to change.