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The Johnson Program

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The Johnson Program for Leadership and Integrity

For generations, Washington and Lee University graduates have made substantial contributions to society. In communities all over the world, they have provided invaluable leadership guided by an ethic of personal integrity and service to others.

The Johnson Program for Leadership and Integrity was established in 2008 to further W&L's mission to prepare graduates to meet the challenges and opportunities of a global and diverse society. The program offers a competitive, merit-based scholarship to roughly 10% of each incoming first-year class, plus on-campus programming, faculty support, and summer enhancement funding to allow W&L students to employ their talents across the globe.

The Program @ Work

The Johnson Scholarship

The Johnson Scholarship recognizes and rewards students on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated leadership and integrity, and their potential to contribute to the intellectual and civic life of the W&L campus and the world at large in years to come. 

Johnson Scholars receive merit scholarships covering full tuition, housing, and meals, plus up to $10,000 for internships, community service projects, faculty-supervised research, international experiences, and leadership projects during the summer.

Opportunity Grants

Johnson Opportunity Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and are open to any returning W&L student. Grants of up to $6,000 cover travel, living expenses, and other costs associated with a proposed project or summer activity. Past projects include national and international conferences, research travel, and community leadership service projects.

Learn More About the Johnson Program

The Johnson Scholarship

More than a Scholarship

The Johnson Scholarship is just one aspect of ÁùºÏÌü¿ª½±ÏÖ³¡'s Johnson Program for Leadership and Integrity, a program that offers opportunities and funding for the entire student body.

Full Scholarship

The Johnson Scholarship

Up to 44 students a year receive awards of at least tuition, room and board as Johnson Scholars. Students are selected on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated leadership and their potential to contribute to the intellectual and civic life of the ÁùºÏÌü¿ª½±ÏÖ³¡ campus and of the world at large in years to come.

Money to Explore

Summer Enhancement Funds

Every recipient of the Johnson Scholar receives an additional $10,000 to support summer experiences traveling, volunteering, interning, or conducting research. Enhancement funds are designed to provide invaluable hands-on experiences and can be used for transportation, living expenses, equipment, and more.

Experience Funding

Opportunity Grants

The Johnson Program provides funds of up to $6,000 to support student projects across the country and around the world. Johnson Opportunity Grants are competitive and open to any rising junior or senior. Recent projects have involved the creation of a documentary about travel on the TransAmerica trail, interning at the British House of Commons, and conducting research at the Children's National Hospital’s Department of Genetic Medicine.

Faculty

Endowed Faculty Chairs

In addition to providing scholarships and opportunity funding for students, the Johnson Program supports two full-time faculty positions, one in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics and one in The College.

500+ Strong

Alumni Network

The first class of Johnson Scholars graduated from ÁùºÏÌü¿ª½±ÏÖ³¡ in 2012. Over ten years later, more than 500 Johnson Scholars have joined the Washington and Lee alumni network in fields as wide-ranging as their passions, and they are always eager to help fellow scholars navigate their own career paths.

Outcomes

International Recognition

Johnson Scholars go on to do incredible things. Three recent scholars have won Rhodes Scholarships. ÁùºÏÌü¿ª½±ÏÖ³¡ is the ONLY liberal arts school to have had more than one Rhodes recipient over the past 10 years, and all three of ours have used the opportunities provided by the Johnson Scholarship Program to build resumes worthy of such an honor. A Forbes "40 Under 40" recipient, numerous Fulbright and Goldwater fellows, doctors, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and public servants -- a Johnson Scholar can do anything.

Stories

Siya ’27 married her passions for service with her economics and mathematics majors to intern this summer at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh through the Shepherd Program.

Cole Gershkovich ’24 found his purpose studying spaces that foster belonging and empowerment among individuals with mental health challenges.

Ben Bankston '25

Ben Bankston ’25 is finding opportunities at ÁùºÏÌü¿ª½±ÏÖ³¡ to challenge himself in and out of the classroom.

A Washington Term class with a real-world focus prepared Singer for post-graduate work in the federal government.

Katie Yurechko '24

Yurechko ’24 is the university’s first Marshall Scholar.

Pernell has been awarded a Young Professional Journalist Program Award to conduct research and gain career experience in Germany.

Avalon Pernell '23

Avalon Pernell ’23 credits the mentorship she received on campus as she launches her career in business journalism.

Phillips '23 is the university’s 18th Rhodes Scholar.

Mansi Tripathi

Tripathi will teach English to students in Colombia for 10 months.

Hannah Puckett '23

After receiving a great deal of support from upperclassmen at Washington and Lee University, Hannah Puckett ’23 pays it forward by dedicating her time to mentoring and counseling first-year students.

Lauren Hoaglund '22

Lauren Hoaglund '22 has parlayed her passion for medieval and Renaissance history, literature, classics and theater into a busy but rewarding four years at ÁùºÏÌü¿ª½±ÏÖ³¡.

Paige Anderson '22 spent the summer recording an album, "Romances for Violins," in memory of her grandmother. Photo courtesy Chad Braithwaite Faces Photography.

Paige Anderson '22 is spending the summer recording an album of classical violin music in memory of her grandmother.