Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars

PROGRAM SUMMARY

To support students in achieving success in the three pillars of scholarship and applied learning, campus involvement and leadership, and professional development, the Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program provides students with the following:

  • An annual renewable merit scholarship, including tuition, fees, room and board (Approximately $21,650 a year)
  • Membership in the University Honors Program
  • Automatic acceptance into the Engineering Leadership Academy
  • $6,000 stipend to support housing and meals during a summer internship
  • $2,500 stipend for study abroad
  • Research and professional development opportunities
  • Laptop or comparable technology purchase
  • Opportunity to earn Engineering Honors through the multidisciplinary Senior Design Project team during the senior year
  • Admittance to special lectures conducted by national and community leaders
  • Priority registration
  • Housing in Levine Hall with students from other honors programs and merit scholars
  • Support and advising from the Albert Faculty Fellow

ADMISSION AND ELIGIBILITY

  • Applicants must be incoming first-year students being considered for full-time enrollment at UNC Charlotte in a baccalaureate program offered by The William States Lee College of Engineering for the fall term immediately following high school graduation
  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
  • Applicants must hold an outstanding academic record of consistently advanced coursework, have had prior experiences which reflect ethical leadership and individual development, and demonstrate a commitment to community service
  • Preference given to students with an unweighted HS GPA = 3.50-4.00 OR weighted HS GPA = 3.80-5.00 AND SAT = 1320/1600 OR ACT 28/36
  • Demonstrated alignment with the mission and values of the Honors College and the University Honors Program
  • Applicants should complete the Honors College application, including the required list of activities, two academic letters of recommendation (one of which also addresses your leadership potential), and honors essay 1. Applicants should also check the box indicating they wish to apply to the Albert Scholars Program and submit honors essay 2.

HOW TO APPLY:

The Albert Engineering Leadership Scholarship application is made available to qualified students through the Honors College Application.

To apply for the Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program:

  • Complete the UNC Charlotte Admission Application by the early action deadline of November 1, 2024
  • Complete the Honors College Application by the priority deadline of December 1, 2024
  • Check the box in the Honors College Application indicating interest in the Albert Engineering Leadership Scholarship application and submit honors essay 2 by December 1, 2024

Required Application Materials

Prepare the following materials to apply to the Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program:

1. List of Activities

Please list and briefly describe any honors, awards, accomplishments, leadership positions, paid employment, and/or significant extracurricular activities (e.g., community service, clubs, sports, band, orchestra, etc.) you have earned or held during high school (or college, if applicable). Indicate the organization’s full name rather than the acronym. Add your activities in order of importance to you, with the first activity being the most important. Be sure to include your name at the top of the page.

2. Two Essays

We are providing the essay prompts here, so you have time to thoughtfully prepare your response.

The purpose of these essays is to help us get to know you as a person and understand how you think. You should submit polished writing that demonstrates authenticity, creativity, and analytical reflection. The best essays will give the review committee a clear sense of the unique intellectual and creative contributions you are poised to make to the UNC Charlotte community.

Essay 1

Please make sure to specifically address the prompt provided in no more than 500 words, or your application will not be considered.

Honors and merit scholars programs at UNC Charlotte expect you to be intellectually curious. Tell us about an idea that has piqued your intellectual curiosity, describe it, and tell us how you have pursued it in your high school years. Use specific examples of how you have used critical thinking and the inquiry process to deepen your knowledge of this idea.

Essay 2

Please make sure to specifically address the prompt provided in 500-700 words, or your application will not be considered.

Describe a time when you faced a challenge, whether social, cultural, geographical, intellectual, or other type of actual or perceived challenge. Tell us about that experience of being out of your comfort zone. What obstacles did you encounter and how did you handle them? What did you gain? How did the end results affect others?

3. Two Academic Letters of Recommendation (one of which also addresses your leadership potential)

An academic reference is defined as a current or former teacher, or professor, who was your instructor for at least one academic course. Family members, friends, current/former employers or co-workers, leaders of a faith-based or community organizations, etc. should not be used as academic references.

A leadership reference is an individual who has witnessed you in a leadership role. Choose an individual who can provide specific information about times when you have demonstrated leadership qualities or qualities you have displayed that indicate potential to be a leader. Your reference may also speak about organizations you are part of which develop leadership skills or allow you to serve in a leadership role.

We suggest that you select and approach your recommenders now. Teachers have busy schedules and writing detailed letters of recommendation is a time-consuming process.

Once you have completed the Honors College Application, your recommenders will receive an email with a link and must upload their letters by December 5th.

TIMELINE

DeadlineAction Required

November 1

Early action deadline to apply to UNC Charlotte to be considered for the Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program and University Honors Program

December 1

Deadline to complete the Honors College Application

December 1Deadline to submit honors essay 2 for the Albert Engineering Leadership Scholarship application
December 5Letters of Recommendation due (via upload from recommenders)
Early February

Finalists and all other applicants are notified of their status via email

Mid-Late February

Virtual interviews take place for finalists

Early March

Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program offers extended and all other candidates are notified of their status