Smucker Leaders Scholarship

The undergraduate minor in Leadership Studies provides students with knowledge of leadership theories, principles, and concepts to better prepare them for success in future professional roles. The minor is structured to include theories and principles of personal leadership, team and organizational leadership, community leadership, and ethics and diversity. Through the generous support from Tim and Jenny Smucker and the J.M. Smucker Company, and endowed scholarship was established for undergraduate students who have declared the Leadership Studies minor. 

The annual distribution from this fund shall be used to provide renewable undergraduate scholarships to students pursuing a minor in Leadership Studies through the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership. Students must apply each year to be eligible for the scholarship; however, they may be awarded multiple times. The amount of each award is dependent on the number of students receiving them and can vary between $500 - $3000. 

The 2025 scholarship application will open in SU25 and an email will be sent to all students enrolled in the Leadership Studies Minor. 

Ohio State is in the process of revising gift fund terms, including scholarship criteria, to ensure compliance with Ohio Senate Bill 1, passed March 25, 2025 by Governor Mike DeWine. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status may still appear in some gift fund descriptions, however, the university is not applying protected class criteria in awarding scholarships or in spending program funds, in compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination law. As gift funds are updated using the statutory methods set forth in Ohio law, the gift fund language visible here will reflect these changes.