President's Emerging Leaders Program

Applications for the 2024-25 academic year are now closed. No further applications will be accepted as of 21 January 2024. Thank you for your interest in the President's Emerging Leaders Program.

Students who are admitted into the President’s Emerging Leaders Program (PELP) have, by the time of their application to Austin Peay, already demonstrated significant achievements as leaders and scholars.

Who can apply?

High school seniors who plan to enter Austin Peay as full-time freshmen in the Fall of 2024 can now apply to PELP. To be considered for PELP, you must:

• have a 3.6 high school GPA,
•  an ACT score of 24 or higher, 
• and exhibit leadership qualities as evidenced by participation in high school and community service activities.
• Please note that if you are accepted to the program, you will need to attend two mandatory orientation events, one overnight from May 31 to 1 June, the other on 20, 21, and 22 August. PELP students will have early move-in for the August Orientation.

The application consists of some basic biographical information, some essay questions, and a face to face interview with the director and a few of the current PELP students.  Please use your very best writing style when you submit the responses to the essay prompts.  Be careful to use good grammar, check your spelling, and be sure that you do not have typographical errors.