Otero’s President’s Leadership Program Accepting Scholarship Applications

The President’s Leadership Program (PLP) at Otero College is currently accepting applications for the 2022 – 2023 academic year. Scholarships may be awarded to leadership scholars who are selected through a competitive process for the program. To apply online visit the Otero website at www.otero.edu. The deadline for scholarships at Otero this year is April 1, 2022.

Samme Ormiston, Otero business faculty, is director of the leadership program. According to Ormiston, the goal of the PLP is to develop and train emerging leaders at Otero College through an academic leadership program that is focused on field experience, service, and experiential learning. Students accepted into the program will earn an academic certificate in Leadership Studies in conjunction with an associate’s degree.

The Certificate in Leadership Studies includes 12-credit hours of study that includes two 3-credit hour core leadership courses and two additional elective courses from a wide-variety of academic programs on campus. The required 3-credit leadership core courses taught by Ormiston will include:

1. Management 224: Leadership – offered Fall Semester
2. Management 287: Cooperative Education/Leadership – offered Spring Semester

“In addition to earning a certificate in Leadership Studies at Otero, we have also been able to align our program with similar programs at four-year colleges in Colorado, thus creating the opportunity for students to seamlessly transfer into those programs and minor in leadership after leaving here,” said Ormiston.

The second aspect of the Leadership Certificate is service-learning experience. “The program places an emphasis on community service and civic engagement in order to help scholars develop a social awareness, civic responsibility and interconnectedness,” explained Ormiston.

“To me PLP means becoming stronger in spheres I’ve always been weak at. I have learned to be more confident as a person and accepting of others and myself. I have had a lot of opportunities to grow not only as a person, but also as a leader doing community service. One of the most meaningful experiences for me was helping in the nursing home. I felt like I was doing something good, something significant,” stated PLP member, Evgeniia Komarova.

Ormiston believes scholars have ample opportunity to participate in experiential learning activities. PLP scholars will learn about leadership through numerous hands-on experiences. Experiences will vary each year and could include such activities such as leadership workshops, lectures from recognized leaders and opportunities for leadership positions on campus and in the community. “This year members had the opportunity to work with leaders from across the world,” said Ormiston.

Scholarship selection will be based on leadership potential, intellectual curiosity, commitment to something outside one’s self and successful interview participation. A minimum of a 3.2 cumulative high school or college grade point average is recommended. Scholars must have the intent to earn an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree at Otero. All scholars will be chosen based upon:

1. Completed written application that includes an essay question and examples of leadership and service experiences
2. Two letters of recommendation
3. High School or college unofficial transcripts
4. Personal interview

PLP member Ryanna Pruett says, “My advice to those interested in the program would be, APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! Take that step in growing. Choosing to apply has been one of my best decisions ever. PLP is not only a place to learn new leadership skills and create a new family, but it also allows you to be heard and use your voice.”

For more information, contact: Samme Ormiston, President’s Leadership Program Director, 1802 Colorado Ave., La Junta, CO 81050, 719-384-6850 or Samme.Ormiston@otero.edu.