The Sapphire Leadership Program

Admission to the 2008 Sapphire Leadership Program is closed.

Maximize your potential

Your drive to be the best has always made you stand out from the crowd. Continue to fuel your far-reaching ambitions at Penn State with participation in the Smeal College of Business Sapphire Leadership Program.

Sapphire students are presented with unique opportunities to harness the vast resources and personal focus of Smeal.

Each year, approximately 50 to 75 students are accepted into the Sapphire Program. You too may have what it takes to join this group of exceptional students and to stand out from the crowd. We invite you to discover all that the Sapphire Leadership Program has to offer.

Leadership Development

Today’s employers are searching for candidates that exhibit exceptional leadership skills. Sapphire students have access to leadership development opportunities that will help them assess their own leadership skills, abilities, practices, and values. Students are able to better understand their own strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to grow as effective leaders.

The Sapphire Leadership Council gives students the opportunity to develop their personal leadership skills while working to improve the Sapphire program. Board officers work with committees comprised of students across all cohorts to build a stronger Sapphire community.

The Smeal Alumni Mentoring Program allows all Smeal students to pair up with successful alumni in the business world. Alumni mentors help pave the way to successful careers for future graduates by providing advice and answering questions that will better prepare them for job interviews.

Study Abroad

Globalization is an important component of the business education for any Smeal student, and Sapphire students are no exception. Participation in study abroad helps you gain valuable experience while exposing you to the international business world.

“My study abroad experience to New Zealand has definitely been the most exciting time of my college career. I had the opportunity to meet great people, travel throughout the region, and learn about the Maori people and their culture.”

Andrew Bott, Sapphire student

Internship and Corporate Involvement Opportunities

Internships and real-world experience are crucial to your business education. The Smeal Corporate Relations staff will assist you to find an internship or co-op that meets your career aspirations.

The Sapphire Program also works with the Smeal Corporate Relations Office and with other companies and experts to provide additional professional development opportunities.

“The Sapphire program has been a great help to me in searching for an internship. Being placed into major courses earlier allowed me to get an internship with Johnson & Johnson.”

Amanda Garries, Sapphire student

A Close-Knit Learning Community

Sapphire students benefit from the close-knit community that develops through common business courses, shared social events, and extracurricular activities. Shortly after arriving to campus, students have an orientation program where they get to know other Sapphire students in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. In their first year, students take three to six Sapphire cohort courses, so they get to know their peers inside the classroom as well. These early relationships serve as a strong academic and social community throughout your education and turn into real-life networking opportunities after graduation.

Academic Advising

Sapphire students begin working with their Sapphire Academic Advisor immediately upon acceptance to Penn State. The advisor continues to work with you throughout your entire business education, providing academic and career planning along the way.

Becoming a Sapphire Student

Admission

Admission to the 2008-2009 Sapphire Program is closed.

Each year, exceptional students that have been accepted to the Smeal College of Business are invited to the apply to the Sapphire program. Details about admission to the 2009-2010 cohort will be available once the admissions process begins in the spring of 2009.

Banks Scholarship

Thanks to a generous gift from Robert and Jennifer Banks, Smeal is able to offer a limited amount of scholarship funds to select incoming first-year students planning to enroll in the college and who also qualify for the Sapphire Program. Students who complete the Sapphire Program application are automatically considered for the Banks Scholarship. Preference is given to students who show a demonstrated dedication to community service.

Contact Information

The Sapphire Program
The Smeal College of Business
The Pennsylvania State University
202 Business Building
University Park, PA 16802

For further information about the advantages of the Sapphire Program, please contact the Undergraduate Programs Office at 814-865-0938 or at sapphire@smeal.psu.edu.