Congratulations on being invited to join the Jaguar Leadership Network (JLN)! IU Indianapolis selected you based on your academic success in your first year and the potential we saw for you to develop as a leader. You earned it, just by being you!
Through JLN, you join a group of students just like you in a supportive environment in which you will expand your social network, get connected with resources, and try out new hands-on experiences.
To take the next step, you just need to say yes.
Thanks to JLN, I was able to make connections with people in different majors but with the same success goals as me.
Zobair Choudhry, JLN Scholar
As a JLN scholar, you will be part of an exclusive community. Through this community, you’ll develop your leadership skills in your sophomore year through a one-credit hour course, expand your social network through program events, and get help in obtaining an engaged learning experience.
JLN Scholars participate in engaged learning opportunities, mentoring, and networking activities designed to foster connections to our campus, faculty, and staff, as well as to other students. The goal is to help each student feel a part of our campus community and to be prepared to develop as a leader. The JLN program is designed to help eligible sophomores and juniors to take full advantage of opportunities on campus and in the city of Indianapolis. Opportunities to connect will vary by semester, but could include opportunities such as JLN lunches, workshops with IU Indianapolis faculty and staff, JLN conferences and mixers.
Participation in the JLN extends across your sophomore and junior years at IU Indianapolis, with the goal of positioning JLN Scholars to compete for paid internships, work, or research experiences during your senior year. The holistic support, experiential learning opportunities, and community engagement experiences are designed to develop students as leaders and to help you acquire professional skills that are important for career success.
JLN Scholars are offered many ways to grow through skills-focused professional development that encourages career success beyond IU Indianapolis. Through a one-credit course and other targeted events, you will focus on developing your skills in areas such as leadership, communication, interviewing, networking, self awareness, identity building and more.
Leadership development is a core aspect of the JLN program. In the first year, you participate in on-campus events to encourage involvement in activities. Through structured assignments, you will also gain an increased awareness of how to utilize your strengths to become effective leaders. In the second year, JLN Scholars can leverage these leadership insights in your engaged learning experience.
During times when school was getting tough, especially around midterm and finals, JLN provided activities and the comforting support I needed to push through and succeed.
Sydney Helminger, JLN Scholar
Many JLN Scholars are the first in their families to attend college, and all have significant levels of financial need. Students are selected as JLN Scholars based on their success during the first semester of college and their demonstrated levels of financial need. The Office of Student Financial Services collaborates with the Office of Academic Affairs to holistically review students who would benefit most from participating in the program. Other selection criteria include intent to pursue a four-year degree program offered at IU Indianapolis (or IUPUC) as well as demonstrated leadership potential. Only residents of Indiana are eligible at this time.
Invitations are sent to first-year students in their second semester to participate in this two-year scholarship program that begins the first semester of their sophomore year and ends the last semester of their junior year. If you have been selected for JLN, accept your scholarship.
There are a number of requirements for accepting and maintaining your JLN scholarship, and it's normal to have questions about the program. Learn more about the program on our requirements and FAQ page.
Description of the video:
[MUSIC PLAYING]
CHRIS ORTIZ: The Jaguar Leadership Network is a scholarship program that provides selected first year students who are Indiana residents with opportunities for networking, leadership development, and experiential learning opportunities during their second and third years of college. Many JLN scholars are the first of their families to attend college, so most have high levels of financial need. JLN scholars will have the opportunities to learn highly sought after professional and leadership skills as they progress towards graduation.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
My experience with JLN has been amazing. I've met a lot of really awesome people that are interested in their studies and all they want to do is to achieve the positive into the world. It can be difficult to navigate such a large University system. And faculty is set to do everything they can to help us. I was having problems contacting professors and advisors. One message to my JLN facilitator, and I had resources within two days.
It's also been very meaningful to connect with people that are going through the same thing that I am. My sophomore year on a Zoom call I expressed that I was having trouble with my math class, as soon as spoke up, and helped me get free tutoring. The scholarship has allowed me to reduce my work hours and focus most of my time on my studies. Furthermore, at the JLN kick-off, I was able to meet other JLN students in ICORE.
It's truly been a wonderful community. To incoming JLN scholars, keep in touch with your facilitator, make sure you keep them in the loop about your academic and career goals. All they want to do is help. And don't be afraid to ask questions. They want to help you succeed.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Don't just take it from us: hear from JLN scholars what the program has meant to them. Chris Ortiz shares his experience in the video above, and you can read more scholars' stories at the link below.
