John Massey Leadership Scholars Program

“Use your success to help others who come after you.” – John Massey 

Program Details

Established in 2022 with a gift from the Massey Family Foundation, the John Massey Leadership Scholars Program offers students an opportunity to prepare for lives of leadership, service, and purpose and begins with the selection of students who have demonstrated their potential for academic success, leadership, and impact.

Purpose: The John Massey Leadership Scholars Program will transform lives by equipping Southeastern students to serve and lead their communities, organizations, and the world with purpose and integrity.

Values: The John Massey Leadership Scholars Program rests on its namesake, John Massey’s life motto: “Do what’s right.” Its values are purpose, integrity, leadership, service, love, and impact.

Vision: By 2042, the John Massey Leadership Scholars Program will have made a difference in the lives of approximately two million people by helping them live lives of purpose through love and impact.

Strategy: The John Massey Leadership Scholars Program consists of three primary components: Scholarships, Mentoring, and Programming.

Scholarships

• Scholarships will consist of $10,000 per year – $5,000 in the fall and $5,000 in the spring semesters. This scholarship is renewable for four years upon meeting eligibility criteria.
• Southeastern will provide an additional scholarship for John Massey Leadership Scholars that will cover the remaining cost of room and board in North Hall during their freshman year of enrollment.

Mentoring

Each student will be assigned a university mentor and a community leader mentor during their four years in the program. Students must attend at least two events or mentoring sessions hosted by their mentors during each semester of the John Massey Leadership Scholars university experience. This will include career advice, guidance, counsel, and shadowing experiences on the job with mentors.

Programming

In addition to mentoring, all John Massey Leadership Scholars are expected to participate in the following program-specific opportunities during each academic year:

• Endowed Lecture Series
• First United Bank’s Annual Stakeholder’s Meeting
• Complete the Spend Life Wisely University Course
• Complete an Internship
• Complete a Capstone Project
• Serve as a Peer Mentor

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible students must have received a nomination and will be chosen according to leadership ability, extracurricular activities, and the embodiment of the characteristics John Massey was known for – gratitude, resilience, integrity, and tenacity.

Acceptable nominators include High School counselors, teachers or administrators, community-based organization liaisons, university alumni, or employers who can attest to the student’s qualification. (Family members are not eligible to nominate).

For consideration, applicants must:

• Be admitted as an incoming freshman to SE for the fall semester
• Submit the SE General Scholarship Application, Leadership Resume, and tell us your “Grit” story
• Receive a nomination from an acceptable nominator by January 31
• Have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 on an unweighted 4.0 scale (GPA is recommended and if lower, selection may be made at the discretion of the Selection Committee)
• As part of an additional scholarship, live on campus (North Hall) for the first fall and spring semester
• Maintain full-time enrollment (12 credit hours) each fall and spring semester
• Recommended the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be completed

How to Apply

Students interested in applying to the John Massey Leadership Scholars Program should indicate their intent on the General Scholarship Application to Southeastern Oklahoma State University by answering the custom scholarship question on the application. All required items must be completed by January 31.

• Complete application to Southeastern Oklahoma State University
• Complete general scholarship application
• Complete John Massey Scholarship Leadership Program application
• Eligible students must have received a nomination from acceptable nominator.
• Recommend Students Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria into the John Massey Leadership Scholars Program are deliberately designed to favor students who demonstrate “grit” and excellence in all the following areas – leadership, community service, desire to make a meaningful impact on the world through occupation and public service and have demonstrated academic promise during high school.

10 students are chosen each year based on:

• Acceptance to Southeastern
• Incoming freshman status
• Proven Leadership Ability
• Commitment to Service

Selection Process

Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort are now open.

A committee will be charged with screening, interviewing, and selecting ten new John Massey Leadership Scholars each spring semester. Students who are selected from the applicant pool will be invited to interview and participate in the John Massey Leadership Scholars Day. In addition to the interview, students will be able to tour the campus and residence halls, learn about academic programs from faculty-led informational sessions, and meet current students and staff.

If you have questions about the nomination of a candidate, please feel free to contact University Scholarships at (580) 745-3212 or email jmls@se.edu.