Adaya Sturkey, Emerging Leaders Class of 2018

Congratulations to Shirmarie Starks, the winner of the essay competition. Shirmarie is a senior at Hampton University and will be graduating in the fall of 2021 with a B.S. in Biology. Thank you to our judges, Rob Beals, Lauren Merritt-Taylor, and Brian McGovern, who scored the student essays and selected the winning paper. The essay topic was Voting Rights.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The purpose of the Emerging Leaders Program is to introduce young leaders to advanced leadership concepts and build a strong foundation for leadership into the 21st century. The program recruits exceptional students who we identify as our nation’s future leaders. Our students engage in a six-month program that fosters personal and professional development focused on critical thinking and problem solving. We connect our students with current leaders, and we expose them to opportunities and events that are outside their range of experiences.

PROFILE OF AN EMERGING LEADER

Emerging Leaders are highly motivated African American undergraduates.
These students possess undeniable leadership potential which is typically
demonstrated in their moral character, extracurricular activities, and the
respect earned from their peers, faculty, and community. Qualified applicants must be current undergraduate students with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and must be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors at a fully accredited college or university in Virginia.

WHAT EMERGING LEADERS CAN EXPECT

Our advanced leadership training prepares our students to compete for leadership roles in today’s complex business environment. Emerging Leaders are immersed in business and leadership training programs, supplemented by mentoring opportunities that prepare them for today’s complex challenges. Program offerings include:

Application is now open

AFTER THE PROGRAM

Emerging Leaders gain knowledge and skills that are both relevant and beneficial to their career journey, and that add value to the scholarly community. As a result, the Emerging Leaders Program has helped to prepare students to pursue and/or compete at some of the nation’s top graduate school programs, scholarships, fellowships and businesses which include:

NOTABLE MENTORS AND SPEAKERS HAVE INCLUDED

• Bobby Scott, US Congressman (D-VA 3rd District)
• Stedman Graham, businessman and partner of Oprah Winfrey
• Tim Scott, US Senator (R-SC)
• Suhail Khan, Director, External Relations, Microsoft
• Ed Gillespie, Vice President for External and Legislative Affairs, AT&T
• Dr. Ben Carson, US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
•  Robert Wolftz, former President of Verizon Virginia
• John Lewis, US Congressman (D-GA 5th District) and Civil Rights Icon
• Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes and Chick-fil-A board member
• George Alexander, author of Queens and Why We Make Movies, and Essence Magazine Contributor

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