Fostering Leadership
Wheaton College equips students to build the church and benefit society worldwide for Christ and His Kingdom. Supporting this mission, the Summit Multicultural Leadership Scholars (SMLS) program welcomes up to 15 exceptional students each year who demonstrate commitment to Kingdom diversity. The imagery of a summit symbolizes students' achievements and experiences along with aspirations for continued growth at Wheaton.
- Apply for Summit Leadership Scholarship
- More information on the Summit Multicultural Leadership Scholars (SMLS) program
Eligibility
The SMLS program is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, including first-generation college students who have demonstrated commitment to building diverse and inclusive communities.
Application Process
Students interested in joining the SMLS cohort complete a separate application with essay responses. Successful candidates typically demonstrate:
- Significant leadership experience in multicultural environments
- Track record of building bridges across diverse communities
- Strong academic performance in challenging pre-college coursework
- Evidence of Christian faith and commitment to Kingdom diversity
- Experience implementing diversity initiatives or programs
- Dedication to serving in cross-cultural contexts
Program Support and Development
The Office of Multicultural Development facilitates SMLS leadership development through required quarterly meetings throughout each Scholar's time at Wheaton. These meetings are designed to:
- Cultivate spiritual growth through a biblical foundation of Christ-centered diversity
- Support academic excellence through mentoring and connections to resources like Learning & Accessibility Services
- Foster meaningful relationships across diverse communities
- Develop leadership skills through engagement in Athletics, Residence Life, and Student Engagement
- Provide holistic support through Student Wellness and the Center for Vocation and Career
Leadership Requirements and Opportunities
Scholars must engage in campus leadership positions for at least two years, preparing them for future leadership roles in diverse professional and ministry contexts. This hands-on experience allows scholars to put their learning into practice while contributing to the campus community.
Scholarship Benefits
Full-tuition scholarship for eight semesters for all admitted SMLS scholars
- Select scholars receive additional room and board scholarship support
- Opportunity to participate in off-campus study programs:
- Semester programs such as Wheaton in Chicago or Wheaton in Mexico
- Summer academic programs including:
- HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development
- Black Hills Field Station
- Wheaton in England
- Wheaton in the Holy Lands
*For a complete list of qualifying programs and specific details about scholarship coverage, please contact Student Financial Services.
Theon E. Hill (Ph.D., Purdue University) serves as Associate Professor of Communication and Assistant Director of Multicultural Recruitment at Wheaton College, where he leads strategic initiatives to create a more representative and inclusive student community. One of these strategic initiatives involves overseeing the BRIDGE program, Wheaton’s pre-college access initiative supporting first-generation college students, low-income students, and students from historically underrepresented groups in their transition to higher education. Alongside his recruitment work, Dr. Hill’s research and teaching focus on rhetorical studies in the context of politics, social movements, religion, and popular culture.