General Overview
The Service Scholar program is designed to promote civic responsibility as an integral part of a liberal arts education at Florida State University and to recognize students with an outstanding record of service and leadership. Admission to the program is reserved for first-year students who have demonstrated excellence in service and leadership in planning and promoting community engagement among their peers. The program includes an annual $4,500 scholarship, which is automatically renewed each year, provided requirements are met.
The Service Scholar program is affiliated with the Center for Leadership & Service (The Center) at Florida State University. Service Scholars are actively engaged students within the Center, across campus, and in the Tallahassee community. It is expected that Service Scholars develop as effective and civically-minded leaders, and demonstrate that development in all spaces.
- It is a four-year program (a maximum of eight semesters of scholarship funds are available).
- Service Scholars participate in 75 hours of community service each semester (45 hours for the first semester of one's first year).
- Service Scholars must maintain a 2.75 GPA each semester.
- Service Scholars attend monthly meetings called Evenings to engage in thoughtful conversation around civic engagement topics.
- Service Scholars enroll in a service-focused course each semester to help connect out-of-class experiences to in-class learning and development.
- First-year students are assigned a peer mentor.
- The Service Scholar program is a chosen family — a supportive community of service-minded student leaders.
Application Information
High school graduating seniors with a distinguished record of community engagement and a strong desire to continue to learn through service are encouraged to apply. Competitive candidates have engaged with communities beyond the normal requirements for high school graduation or Florida Bright Futures scholarships, both in quantity and depth of service. A commitment that exhibits initiative and leadership will be given greater consideration.
2025 Applicant Timeline
- Application Opens: 8am October 10, 2024
- Application Deadline: 5:00pm (EST) February 23, 2025
- Contact information for two recommenders is due with the application, but recommenders have until March 5, 2025 to complete their online recommendation form.
- Recommendation Deadline (for recommenders): March 5, 2025 by 11:59pm EST
- Semi-Finalists Announced: March 19, 2025
- Finalists Announced: by April 9, 2025
- Program Admissions Decisions Announced: April 24, 2025
- Program Acceptance Deadline: May 1, 2025
The application is completed via Survey Monkey Apply (smapply), an online application system. While applying, please make sure to check your junk or spam email inboxes for application system emails.
Applicants are encouraged to stay attentive to their email for changes in their application status.
Service Scholar Application (Class 29)
General Overview
The Service Scholar program is designed to promote civic responsibility as an integral part of a liberal arts education at Florida State University and to recognize students with an outstanding record of service and leadership. Admission to the program is reserved for first-year students who have demonstrated excellence in service and leadership in planning and promoting community engagement among their peers. The program includes an annual $4,500 scholarship, which is automatically renewed each year, provided requirements are met.
The Service Scholar program is affiliated with the Center for Leadership & Service (The Center) at Florida State University. Service Scholars are actively engaged students within the Center, across campus, and in the Tallahassee community. It is expected that Service Scholars develop as effective and civically-minded leaders, and demonstrate that development in all spaces.
- It is a four-year program (a maximum of eight semesters of scholarship funds are available).
- Service Scholars participate in 75 hours of community service each semester (45 hours for the first semester of one's first year).
- Service Scholars must maintain a 2.75 GPA each semester.
- Service Scholars attend monthly meetings called Evenings to engage in thoughtful conversation around civic engagement topics.
- Service Scholars enroll in a service-focused course each semester to help connect out-of-class experiences to in-class learning and development.
- First-year students are assigned a peer mentor.
- The Service Scholar program is a chosen family — a supportive community of service-minded student leaders.
Application Information
High school graduating seniors with a distinguished record of community engagement and a strong desire to continue to learn through service are encouraged to apply. Competitive candidates have engaged with communities beyond the normal requirements for high school graduation or Florida Bright Futures scholarships, both in quantity and depth of service. A commitment that exhibits initiative and leadership will be given greater consideration.
2025 Applicant Timeline
- Application Opens: 8am October 10, 2024
- Application Deadline: 5:00pm (EST) February 23, 2025
- Contact information for two recommenders is due with the application, but recommenders have until March 5, 2025 to complete their online recommendation form.
- Recommendation Deadline (for recommenders): March 5, 2025 by 11:59pm EST
- Semi-Finalists Announced: March 19, 2025
- Finalists Announced: by April 9, 2025
- Program Admissions Decisions Announced: April 24, 2025
- Program Acceptance Deadline: May 1, 2025
The application is completed via Survey Monkey Apply (smapply), an online application system. While applying, please make sure to check your junk or spam email inboxes for application system emails.
Applicants are encouraged to stay attentive to their email for changes in their application status.