Sapphire Leadership Program
The Sapphire Leadership Program is designed for high-achieving 
students who have been accepted to the Smeal College of Business and would like to enhance their business school experience through networking events, community service initiatives, and leadership development opportunities.
Applications are taken annually during the spring prior to enrollment as a first-year undergraduate in the summer or fall. For more information, contact the Smeal Undergraduate Education Office at 814-863-1947 or sapphire@smeal.psu.edu.
Applications for the 2013 Sapphire cohort are now being accepted! All applications must be electronically submitted by Friday, April 5, and all applicants will be notified of their acceptance or denial by April 19. Early submission is highly recommended.
Visit the online application form for further instructions.
Specialized Curriculum
As a Sapphire student, you will take two key courses exclusively taught by Sapphire faculty and staff advisers. The First-Year Seminar (PSU 006S) will acclimate you to Smeal and the various business majors offered by the college. In your second year, you will take the Leadership Development Seminar in which you will begin to develop a proposal for a self-directed, multi-semester leadership project.
Corporate Connections
Working with Smeal Career and Corporate Connections, Sapphire students have access to a number of professional development opportunities. This includes exclusive recruiting events such as company site visits, roundtable discussions, and panel sessions with recruiters from leading organizations.
Executive Insights
In addition to the many professional development opportunities offered through the Career and Corporate Connections office, you will have reserved seating for the college's Executive Insights program. Executive Insights is a signature speaker series at Smeal that brings CEOs from leading corporations to the college to share their experiences with students, faculty, and administrators.
Close-Knit Community
As part of a cohort of students with similar goals, values, and abilities, you will collaborate with and learn from your peers. Each year, a number of special events and activities are planned for Sapphire students to promote collaboration and bonding.
- Welcome/Orientation: The incoming cohort kicks off its first-year experience with the Welcome Breakfast, which serves as an opportunity for you to meet your fellow Sapphire peers and make contact with the Executive Board as well as the faculty and staff advisers from the college.
- Leadership Day: Students are divided into groups to participate in a series of team-building activities to promote leadership development and collaboration.
- Team Development Course: Students travel off-campus to an outdoor adventure course to take part in a series of challenges designed to enhance team-building principles, problem solving, communication, and planning skills.
