Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program – Stanford Leadership Scholarship

In 2016, Phil Knight – Founder of Nike, and John Hennessy – Chairman of Alphabet Inc., established the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (KHS) at Stanford University. The $750 million endowment fund is aimed at building leaders committed to solving problems of global scale, from climate change, healthcare gaps, efficiency in government, and access to education.

In addition to financial support, the program builds a network of 5,000 leaders from fields as diverse as academia, government, non-profit, and private enterprise.  

Engaging in the King Global Leadership Program (KGLP) – the core leadership curriculum for the program, scholars work on fine-tuning their leadership traits, behavior, and goals. The biggest value proposition in the program is enhancing a keen sense of multicultural and multi-disciplinary perspective required to solve problems of global scale.

Amount: Three Years of Funding to cover expenses

Number of Awards: Varies (2018 to 2023 – 425) (Around 85 Every year from all Stanford Graduate School Disciplines)

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

•    Applicants must apply to, be accepted by, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program. This includes a wide range of programs such as DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD, as well as joint- or dual-degrees

•    Candidates must have earned a bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university in the United States or its equivalent

•    Maximum 5 years gap between the undergraduate degree and application

Criteria

Candidates for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program are assessed based on the following criteria:
•    Valued for their capacity for independent, visionary thinking.
•    Demonstrated intellectual capability and the potential for significant contributions to their chosen fields.
•    Exhibit clear communication – a cornerstone for leadership
•    Display creative problem-solving abilities
•    Track record of IMPACTFUL results
•    Inspiring Positive Change
•    Courage and Resilience in Confronting Challenges
•    Ethical Decision Making
•    Collaborative and Humble
•    Integrity and Accountability to be of service as community members

Essays

The following three short questions are asked in the application form:

Short Answer Questions

•    How will your Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience prepare you to realize your immediate and long-term intentions? (250 word limit)
•    Please tell us when you: a) made someone particularly proud of you, b) were most challenged, and c) fell short of expectations. (150 word limit combined)
•    Please tell us eight improbable facts (things that are unlikely but true) about you. (150 word limit combined)

Essay: Connect the dots. How have the influences in your life shaped you? (600 word limit)

Deadline: Oct 11th

Related Service: Scholarship Essay Editing Service (1 School) (Unlimited Essays)

Related Book: Stanford MBA Essay Guide

Reference: Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program