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W. Timothy Rogers Student Leadership Development Fund

The W. Timothy Rogers Student Leadership Development Fund provides opportunities to individual students who are interested in participating in/attending a leadership development conference that provides significant training and/or professional development.

Requirements and Restrictions

  • Applicants must be full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be in good standing with the University.
  • Students must demonstrate exemplary leadership potential.
  • Funding cannot be granted for conferences that take place after a student’s official graduation from the University.
  • If applying for summer travel, the student must be registered for classes at UTK in the coming fall.
  • Only one award can be received per student, per academic year.
  • Students must list a faculty or staff as an *official mentor/partner/advocate for the opportunity.
  • All students who receive funding are required present to the UTK campus community (department, organization, mentor, etc.) about their experience no more than 45 days following the conference or event, during the academic year in which they received their funds.

 

Required Documentation

Before applying for the W. Timothy Rogers Student Leadership Development Fund please review the list of required documentation below to ensure that you are prepared to include all necessary information.

  • A completed online application form includes:
    • demographic information
    • conference/event information
    • 2 Short Essay Questions
  • A letter of recommendation from your faculty/staff mentor.
    • This letter should include your mentor’s thoughts on how attending your selected conference or event will impact your leadership development.
    • Letters can be uploaded to the application or emailed to leadserve@utk.edu with Attn: Travel Fund.
  • Current résumé

 

Notification of Selection

Response time depends on receipt of your application, the letter of recommendation, and résumé. Please allow two to three weeks for the review process to be completed.  You will receive an email of the decision prior to you attending the conference/event, if the application is submitted at least three (3) weeks prior to the conference. For questions, email leadserve@utk.edu.

 

Receiving of Funds

Funds will be provided to students prior to attending the conference/event via a travel advance if the application and review process is completed in enough time to do so.  Students will receive instructions about how to obtain the funds and the steps necessary in reconciling funds after the event when they are notified of selection.  Funds are to only cover the following expenses:

  • Conference/Event Registration
  • Travel (UTK car rental or gas for personal vehicle)
  • Lodging

Funds will not cover meals or flights.

Application Deadlines

Applications may be submitted up to six months in advance and no later than 30 days prior to the start of the conference. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis per semester.

 

W. Timothy Rogers Student Leadership Fund Application

Please complete the following application in addition to submitting a current resume and letter of recommendation from a faculty/staff mentor to leadserve@utk.edu, if you did not include it in the application. Application, resume and recommendation letter must all be received in order for the application to be considered complete.

  • @vols.utk.edu - do not enter a gmail or other non-university related email
  • Max. file size: 2 MB.
  • Conference and Event Information

    See a list of conference options above. Other conference options will be considered.
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • Please list out each expense along with a total (i.e. conference registration = $150, lodging = $150, total cost = $300)
  • Students must select a faculty or staff as their official mentor/partner/advocate for this opportunity. The individual must submit a letter of recommendation for the student. The letter should include your mentor's thoughts on how your leadership development will be impacted by attending the conference or event. The letter must be uploaded to this application or submitted to leadserve@utk.edu prior to the application being evaluated.
  • i.e. Center for Health Education and Wellness, Department of Sociology, etc.
  • Max. file size: 2 MB.
  • Essay Questions

  • In 500 words or less.
  • In 500 words or less.
  • Post Conference Presentation

    All students who receive funding are required to present to the Jones Center for Leadership and Service, their faculty/staff mentor, and/or campus partners about their experience no more than 45 days following the conference or event, during the academic year in which they received their funds.
  • Initial below if you agree with the above statement.
  • Max. file size: 2 MB.