The Saint Francis University
Student Government Association (SGA) will award three (3) $1,000 fellowships to incoming first year students who have demonstrated a commitment to developing their leadership potential through areas such as community service, involvement in clubs and organizations,
athletics, and student government. The purpose of this fellowship is to develop leadership skills and competencies, foster unique opportunities and experiences, and create an environment where these talents can be utilized to promote the values of SGA—Leadership,
Service, and Community.
The distinction between a scholarship and fellowship are in that with a scholarship, the recipient has already met the criteria and receives the award without any further obligation. With a fellowship, the recipient must perform and comply within a
set of expectations in order to continue to receive the award. Because the SGA intends for its award recipients to continue to develop as leaders on campus,
this program is structured as a fellowship. As a fellowship program, recipients must meet specific criteria in order to maintain the award for each consecutive year of their undergraduate studies.
Eligibility: All incoming, first-year, full-time undergraduate students who have been awarded a Saint Francis University Merit Scholarship (Red-Flash Co-Curricular, Assisi, Presidential, and Founders’ Scholarships -- which are listed on
your acceptance letter from SFU Admissions) will be eligible.
To Apply: Complete this online application and submit all requested materials by 4:00pm, August 14, 2026. Selected finalists will be asked to complete an interview with members of the Saint Francis University Student Government Association's
Executive Board within the first few weeks of the Fall semester.
Process: The selection process will work as follows:
- Application Deadline – August 14, 2026
- Applications will be reviewed during the SGA Executive Board's return to campus in late August/ early September.
- Finalists will be selected and interviews will then be scheduled and conducted during the first three weeks of the Semester
- Final selections will be made by mid to late September (tentatively)
Requirements/Expectations: Fellowship recipients will be required to:
- Serve as a member of the Saint Francis University SGA Senate for the first Fall semester as a class representative
- Maintain commitment to the Saint Francis University Emerging Leaders Program
- Maintain a significant leadership role in a recognized campus organization and prove to be effective in achieving organizational goals
for each year you maintain the fellowship
- Serving on SGA qualifies for this as does (for example) serving as a team captain or executive board member of another organization.
- Maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average )
- Participate in the Fellowship Freshmen Project
- Fellowship recipients are subject to annual review. Failure to meet the above criteria may result in loss of fellowship.
Contact the Student Government Association for additional information by email at
SGA@francis.edu.
As part of your application- please prepare the following:
Names and Contact Information for at least 2 references
Essay: In a separate document, please answer the following questions as part of an essay summarizing your leadership experiences.
(You will upload your document in the next section of this online application.)
- Please list and discuss, briefly, the position and scope of your previous and most significant leadership/service experiences.
- What have you learned from these leadership experiences?
- In what ways do you anticipate these experiences making a positive impact on the Saint Francis University community?
- What are your personal leadership goals for the next year? The next four years? After graduating from Saint Francis University?
- Why should you be considered for this year's SGA Freshman Leadership Fellowship program?