Arthur J. Schmitt Future Leaders Scholarship Program

Within the context of Benedictine University Mission and Common Learning Objectives, the central component of the Future Leaders Scholarship Program is development of the Future Leader Scholar’s leadership capabilities. More than 20 hours of formal leadership development is required from each Schmitt Scholar and additional ongoing mentoring throughout the academic year, described below is each of its five stages:

1. The first stage is a one-hour student leadership orientation. This orientation was for general introductions and orients the students to the expectations of the Schmitt Scholar Future Leaders Program.
2. The second stage involves weekly leadership assessments and reflections on leadership styles and preferences.
3. The third stage is a formal dinner in which the Schmitt Future Student Leaders meet with Schmitt Foundation Board members, to introduce their service-learning project proposals
4. The fourth stage involves the scholarship recipients implementing their service projects in collaboration with one another or individually.
5. Scholar presentations fulfill the fifth stage, formal presentations

Arthur J. Schmitt’s lifelong quest for ethical and actionable leadership for organizations and the young people he taught in an enriched and accelerated program designed to prepare them for individual and civic responsibility is engendered within Benedictine University’s Arthur J. Schmitt Future Leaders Scholarship Program.

In 2007, The Arthur J. Schmitt Foundation wanted to forge new in-roads with Benedictine University by creating an environment that Arthur J. Schmitt passed on his knowledge, skills, and compassion to students, by building a program that coincides with the vision of the Foundation. Benedictine’s Goodwin College of Business initiated the program. The new program was styled after the workshops done through Arthur J. Schmitt with an emphasis around Robert Greenleaf’s definition of “Servant-Leadership” as well as Jim Collins’ “Level 5 Leadership” in which learning exercises were combined with individual learning styles and leadership simulations.

The Arthur J. Schmitt Foundation Future Leaders Scholarship program is jointly administered by the Goodwin College of Business and Benedictine University’s Grants Office. Dr. Julie Bjorkman, Ph.D., is the program leader and main instructor.