The 2025 SESP Leadership Awards

SESP is pleased to sponsor the 2025 SESP Alumni Leadership Award. This award, presented annually to one undergraduate and one graduate student, recognizes outstanding leadership and character. The award includes a $1,000 prize to each recipient. A committee of SESP alumni will read and evaluate each application on the components described below. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. (CT) on  Tuesday May 20. Recipients will be announced and recognized at the SESP graduation ceremony on June 16. 

The Logistics

A complete application must contain:   

1) Personal statement (approximately 500 words): Recognizing leadership as a demonstrated ability to affect the vision and guide the direction of an organization or team, write a 500-word statement in which you define leadership and describe how you exemplified it in a real-life situation within SESP, the Northwestern community, or the community at large. Please include details that will help the alumni review committee understand the challenges of the situation and the unique leadership skills you applied. Note: AI is a great tool to review and revise for clarity and spelling/grammar, however essays completed using generative AI or similar technology will not be accepted. 

2) Current resume 

3) Letter of recommendation: Obtain a letter of recommendation from an individual who was affected by or witnessed your leadership and who can describe your leadership style and your ability to impact vision and change. Focus on how well the person writing the reference knows you, in regard to the aspect of leadership on which you are writing. Do not focus on a big-name reference who can only write in broad terms as to your abilities. Letters of recommendation must come directly from the recommender and should be uploaded here. 

Please submit applications to the SESP Alumni Leadership Award review committee via this Google Form. 

The Criteria

Leadership has many forms and meanings, and there is not a standard definition applied here. The focus is on the impact. 

The alumni committee will evaluate your application as follows: 

• Demonstrated leadership, how it is or was demonstrated and its impact - 60% (the recommendation letter is factored into this) 
• Quality of the personal statement - 40% 

The alumni award review committee looks forward to reading your application and wishes you the best as you complete your Northwestern education. 

If you have any questions about the award, please contact the SESP Graduation Team at sespconvocation@northwestern.edu or your program contact.