Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholars Program
Mission and Purpose
The Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholars program is a leadership program giving young women the opportunity to deepen and integrate their education through required work and service along with guided goal-setting and reflection by academic year.
The purpose of this program at Stetson University is to prepare students who will strive, in the spirit of Mrs. Whitehead, to improve the communities in which they live, work and serve. Along with work and service, students participate in activities on campus and one-on-one meetings with the LPWS Coordinator that encourage them to think of their education with a holistic perspective, supporting students in a four-year process of self-appraisal. Consistent with in the institution-wide mission, it is also the goal of the Whitehead Scholars to make an excellent private liberal-arts education accessible to talented students from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds.
Program History
The education of nearly five decades of women and over 550 awardees at Stetson University was made possible by the generosity of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation through a named scholarship award. In 2018, after seeing the success of other leadership programs on campus, the Whitehead Scholars Program was founded in an effort to build community and implement a curriculum to encourage students to be more intentional about planning, goal-setting, and reflection during their academic career. Read more about the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation.
Eligibility and Requirements
In accordance with guidelines prescribed by the founder, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation:
At the time of admission, students must:
- Be residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia
- Self-identify as a Christian in the Admissions process
- Be enrolled as a student at Stetson University
- Have been accepted to Stetson University and
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have it sent to Stetson University's Admissions Office
While in school, students must:
- Stay in good academic standing
- Hold an on-campus job
- Participate in the Whitehead Scholars community service projects
- Participate in the developmental, community-based curriculum set out by the program
The Whitehead Scholars are selected based on their eligibility and application essays. Students of any year are eligible, but preference is given to students who will be sophomores for the upcoming year.
Application Timeline
Students should apply through the Scholarship Manager Portal. Priority review of applications will begin on May 1 and continue until spaces are full for the next academic year.