PLC offers many scholarships to fully participating students throughout their undergraduate careers.  After the first year and your one-time $1000 merit scholarship, you have the opportunity to apply or be nominated for several scholarships that can substantially help fund your undergraduate education.  Below is a list of available scholarships primary to PLC students. All PLC allocated scholarships are dispersed through the Office of Financial Aid, and are calculated directly against the cost of tuition.

Incoming PLC students will receive $1000 ($500/semester).  This merit scholarship is based on student enrollment in PRLC 1810 and PRLC 1820. Students have to maintain a full course load (12 credits or more) and a minimum GPA of 3.0.  If any of these specifications are not fulfilled, the scholarship will be canceled.

This scholarship is not renewable and is only awarded during the first year of PLC participation.

PLC Enrichment Fund scholarships are awarded to PLC students based on merit and opportunity-based needs. PLCers can apply twice for enrichment funding between their sophomore and senior years.  Enrichment funding amounts vary between a minimum of $250 and maximum of $1500 per academic year. The amount requested does not guarantee the amount awarded. Awards cannot be allocated as cash/check, nor distributed during the summer except for Maymester and Summer Term tuition purposes. The PLC Enrichment Fund scholarships are merit-based, however, financial need can be considered if indicated.

Award Criteria:

  • Applications must be turned in on time - no late applications will be accepted
  • Excellence is expected in the application
  • Quality and effort of application.
  • Good academic and program standing (> 3.0 GPA and active program participation)
  • A demonstrated commitment to and continuous involvement in the PLC program and community.
  • Opportunity fulfills requirements for PLC
    • ALE opportunity
    • PRLC/LEAD 4000 courses
    • Academic/Professional Conference attendance or presenting
    • Other opportunities on a case-by-case basis

Application Due Dates:

  • Opens November 1 - Due March 1

PLC students apply for PLC Enrichment Fund Scholarships here:

PLC Enrichment Fund Scholarship

The Hoelscher Memorial scholarship is an annual award of $2,000 for two rising juniors or seniors PLC student who exemplifies the love of life, continued learning, and adventure of the late PLC Alumus, Michael Hoelscher.  The Hoelscher family connects with each recipient and gifts them the book made in Michael’s honor, For the Love of Mike.

Award Criteria:

This $2000, one-time, scholarship was created with private gifts from the Hoelscher family and friends to assist a student of the Presidents Leadership Class in his/her junior or senior year.  This student must have a minimum sophomore or junior G.P.A. of 3.5, and shares the following qualities of PLC alumnus Michael Lee Hoelscher (1969-1997):

  • Commitment to academic excellence
  • Commitment and engagement in extracurricular activities
  • A constant quest for learning
  • A demonstrable concern for people
  • Diversity of experience at the university and in extracurricular activities
  • Goal-oriented with a dedication to achievement
  • Financial need (considered but not required)

Application Due Dates:

  • Opens November 1 - Due March 1

PLC students apply for the Michael Hoelscher Memorial Scholarship through the MyCUInfo portal -> Apply For Scholarships.

Each year three Colorado resident students are selected to receive $4,000/year for four years, for a total of $16,000. Merit and need-based scholarship criteria are determined by FirstBank and the Denver Foundation and communicated to the PLC professional staff for student selection. All recipients must be Colorado residents and members of PLC upon initial selection.  

Students do not submit an additional application for this scholarship. The scholarship is awarded through the CU Scholarship portal and will be automatically renewed.

Each year, three positions on the PLC student staff will be named Voss Scholars and recognized for their year-long commitment to connecting PLC students with the broader Colorado community and directly contributing to programming excellence through the YMCA program LeadCO. These positions are applied for through the PLC Student Staff application process.

The Leo Hill Endowment funds the scholarship for the two Deep Dive Coordinators on the student staff for a given academic year. These positions are applied for through the PLC Student Staff application process. These two students work to foster high levels of inclusivity through 1-2 day excursions exploring industries, social issues, etc., with a group of their peers.

PLC Alumnus Tim Pestotnik awards two PLC students with high demonstrated financial need. There is no application for this scholarship, however, a needs analysis is done through the Office of Financial Aid to verify high and/or moderate financial need, and students are nominated based on that report. Two students are awarded $2500 each, for one year.  

Students do not submit an application for this scholarship.

This scholarship is made possible by many members of the Ruyle family. Mr. Robert Ruyle was an original trustee of the program. His son Stephen and daughter Robin were then members of the program. The legacy continued with Drs. Stephanie and Stephen's children, Bridger and Remington. The family provides undergraduate scholarships for Presidents Leadership Class students at CU Boulder who are in good standing in both academics and program participation.

Students do not submit an application for this scholarship.

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