Identifying Emerging Urban Leaders

Act Six locally recruits and selects diverse, multicultural cadres of promising urban student leaders. We seek high school seniors or recent graduates who are:

• passionate about learning
• eager to build intercultural relationships
• committed to serving others
• ready to improve their college campus and home community

The selection process also places high value on students' teamwork, critical thinking, communication skills, and academic potential. Although ethnicity and family income are considered in the application process, there are no restrictions. All students are welcome to apply.

Apply or Nominate

If this description sounds like you or a student you know, you can download application materials or nominate a student by first finding your local affiliate.

Recruitment Strategy

Affiliates and partner colleges employ active community-based recruiting efforts and a rigorous selection process to identify diverse, multicultural cadres of between 7 and 15 of the city’s most promising urban student leaders.

While ensuring that every selected scholar will be ready to succeed academically, the selection process seeks to identify leadership and academic promise beyond traditional measures, eliciting more elusive qualities of leadership and providing multiple and authentic forums for students to demonstrate their strengths.

Because the selection is finalized almost a year prior to college, the process provides ample opportunity for students to get to know and understand both the college and the nature of the Act Six initiative before making an early commitment to the initiative and the college.

Act Six considers students from any faith background and scholars are not required to be Christian. However, scholars must demonstrate a willingness to explore and engage in dialog around the Christian perspectives that motivate the initiative.

While Act Six is clearly focused on identifying and empowering underrepresented students, affiliates are encouraged to consider dominant culture students who model strong intercultural leadership and embody the ideals of the program.

Selection Process

Act Six scholars are chosen in the fall through a rigorous, two-phase selection process.

Phase I: Written Application

Applicants submit an initial written application that includes:

• a basic college admissions application
• additional essay questions
• letters of recommendation from school and community references
• family financial information

A local application review committee then selects approximately 20 semifinalists who are invited to participate in Phase II.

Phase II: On Campus Event

Semifinalists, along with a parent, come to the campus to learn more about the college as students participate in a four-part interactive evaluation process that includes:

• personal interviews
• an on-site essay
• academic seminar discussions
• group problem solving activities

A selection committee then names approximately 10 finalists. Once named, finalists are required to make a formal commitment to the Act Six program. By committing to the program, students agree to attend the selected college and to participate fully in the 9-month training and preparation program throughout the remainder of the year.

Learn More

Recruit and Select » Train and Prepare » Send and Fund » Support and Inspire