ACT SIX PORTLAND

An initiative of Portland Leadership Foundation, Act Six is Oregon’s only full-tuition, full-need community leadership award. Act Six will select approximately 14 of the Portland area’s most promising urban leaders for scholarships to two local partner colleges: George Fox University and Warner Pacific University

Who Should Apply

Every year Act Six recruits diverse, multicultural cadres of the Portland area’s most promising emerging urban and community leaders. The Initiative seeks young people who want to use their college education to make a difference on campus and in their communities at home. Act Six scholars must be:

• passionate about learning
• eager to foster intercultural relationships
• willing to step out of their comfort zones
• committed to serving those around them
• ready to make a difference on campus and at home

The selection process also places high value on applicants’:

• teamwork
• critical thinking
• communication skills
• academic potential

Applicants must be high school seniors planning to graduate in 2018 or must have previously graduated from high school in 2017 or 2016. Students enrolled at two-year colleges in the region may apply, but students currently enrolled at four-year colleges, including partner colleges, are not eligible to apply.

While ethnicity and family income are considered as factors in selecting an intentionally diverse group of scholars, there are no income restrictions, and students from all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Timeline

As illustrated on the graphic timeline above, Act Six scholars are chosen through a rigorous, highly competitive, three-phase selection process that spans four months.

Online Application

Applicants complete an initial online application that includes a basic college admissions application as well as additional essay questions, letters of recommendation, and family financial information. All application materials must be submitted by 11:59 pm on November 7, 2017 .

Phase I

After an initial screening of written application materials, top applicants are notified by email on November 28 and invited to participate as candidates in Phase II.

Phase II

Candidates participate in a local half-day interactive event on December 9 where they demonstrate their academic and leadership potential while working together to address a complex community issue. Candidates learn more about each partner college and can update the list of colleges for which they wish to be considered. A local community committee considers candidates’ performance on both the written and interactive components to name 20-30 semifinalists for each partner college. Decisions are emailed on January 9.

Phase III

Semifinalists travel to the college for which they were selected for a two- or three-day event between January 26 to February 15. Phase III allows students to experience campus life as they participate in a four-part evaluation process that includes a personal interview, an on-site writing task, academic seminar discussions, and group problem-solving activities. A parent or guardian is invited to participate in a portion of the visit.

Decision

Each partner college selects finalists and mails decision letters on February 20. Finalists are given one week to decide and commit to the Act Six program, agreeing to attend the college for which they were selected and to participate fully in the five-month training program. Applicants may withdraw from the process at any time prior to this commitment. The new class of Act Six scholars are formally announced to the public on March 9.

Visit their website above to learn more and to apply!

Applications are usually due November of the year you are graduating (if you are graduating June 2019, your application is due November 2018)