Ruth G. Shaw Leadership Program

From September to March, a select cohort, or group, of 12 students and 12 mentors come together for dynamic leadership conversations on topics such as self-awareness, conquering fear, building self-trust, and leaving a lasting impression.

Benefits of the Ruth G.  Shaw Leadership Program 

This program:

• aims to inspire students to take on leadership roles and celebrate their achievements.
• nurtures student leaders by promoting critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and problem-solving skills. 
• fosters a deeper awareness of the significant roles and contributions of women in society.
• offers recognition of achievement: In April, showcase your journey by presenting a capstone project that highlights your experience. 
• includes eligibility for a Ruth G. Shaw Scholarship up to $1,000 to aid with tuition, fees, and books.
• provides a supportive network of students and community mentors. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Ruth G. Shaw Leadership Program, you must have: 

• completed two semesters of coursework (24 credit hours) at Central Piedmont Community College before the fall semester.
• a minimum 2.5 GPA. 
• demonstrated support for females in the pursuit of a higher education degree, regardless of your sex.

Recipient Requirements 

The program is limited to 12 students. As a recipient, you:

• will participate in two monthly sessions held on Fridays — one with Ruth G. Shaw scholar mentors and a separate scholars-only session.
• should be prepared to arrange your fall and spring classes around Friday program meetings.
• must be enrolled in for-college-credit classes for the entirety of the academic year. 
• must attend all Ruth G. Shaw scholar meetings.

Community Mentors

Becoming a mentor offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in students' lives, share your expertise, and develop your own leadership skills.

Mentors are expected to commit approximately 18-20 hours between August and April. This includes orientation, six meetings, a social gathering, and a culminating capstone class. Additional time may be required for preparing mentor-facilitated meetings or field trips.  

Mentors selected for the Ruth G. Shaw Leadership Program will: 

• be among Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s most competent community volunteers and philanthropists, business executives and professionals, chosen for the specific expertise and enthusiasm you can bring to Ruth G. Shaw scholars. 
• show a genuine interest in the scholars and be sensitive to cultural differences. 
• demonstrate a willingness to share your definitions, experiences, perspectives, counsel, networks and personal support to initiate conversation with scholars about understanding their own definitions of success. 
• discuss with scholars the importance of career planning and offer examples of the strategies you've employed to achieve your goals 
• use you strengths and accomplishments as an impetus to propel scholars toward a greater level of personal accomplishment and achievement. 

Interested in becoming a mentor? 

Email Vanesa Stolen. 

Apply for the Scholarship

The application is currently closed for the 2025-26 academic year. Please check back in March 2026 for information on applying in 2026-27.

To be considered, submit the general scholarship application and then select the Ruth G. Shaw Scholarship application. Qualified applicants will be invited to interview with a scholarship selection committee.