We are pleased to announce that the Patrick Calhoun Leadership Scholarship will again provide scholarships in 2025 for the purpose of preparing conservative future leaders. The scholarship’s goal is to train future leaders who will protect America’s founding values by advancing conservative principles. The scholarship will fund attendance to The Leadership Institute’s, Youth Leadership School, in Washington D.C. for a successful applicant chosen from the finest high school or college students from across America. Details on the scholarship and eligibility are as follows:
Scholarship: The scholarship will include round-trip airfare from the scholar’s home to Washington D.C., and tuition (including room and board) to the Youth Leadership School at The Institute’s Steven P.J. Wood headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The dates of this year’s program are July 1-5. Each scholarship recipient will attend the two-day Youth Leadership School on July 2-3, 2025. Students can opt in to stay in Washington D.C. for an extra “free” day to celebrate the 4th of July on Friday and depart D.C. on July 5. Meals, lodging, and transportation during the four-night, three-day stay are included in the scholarship.
Youth Leadership School: The Leadership Institute’s flagship school is nicknamed “the boot camp of politics.” Young conservative leaders are taught effective campaign strategies and tactics to organize and lead mass-based youth efforts for candidates and causes of their choice.
Students will learn what it takes to build an effective student organization and use the media to get their message out. The school helps launch a successful career in politics and students develop a nationwide network of conservative friends.
The YLS has launched more successful political careers than any other training program. The Leadership Institute trained over a thousand young conservatives during the past year.
Purpose: Future leaders will play an important role in fighting the battle of ideas against the left’s “woke” agenda to destroy the foundations of our faith, family, and freedom. Economic growth and prosperity are only possible in a free society that honors work and achievement. One of the biggest impediments to building a better country is the absence of strong conservative values that encourage “pro-growth” public policy. Sadly, America’s traditions of free speech, free enterprise, individual liberty, and limited government are under attack from institutions and individuals of the left. Although discredited by history, many on the left are openly promoting socialism and government control – even some members of the U.S. Congress.
Our goal is to identify, recruit, train, and place conservatives in government, politics, and the news media. To that end, the Calhoun Leadership Scholarship will train future leaders and provide the tools to build a stronger America and lay the foundation for a brighter future.
The Leadership Institute: The Institute strives to produce a new generation of public policy leaders unwavering in their commitment to free enterprise, limited government, strong national defense, and traditional values. Institute graduates are equipped with practical skills and professional training to implement sound principles through effective public policy.
Founded in 1979 by its president, Morton C. Blackwell, the Leadership Institute teaches bright conservatives the nuts and bolts of how to succeed in the public policy process. Institute programs now prepare thousands of young Americans each year to:
- Lead others in the public policy process
- Manage grassroots campaigns for candidates of their choice
- Run successfully for elected office
- Make policy as elected officials or key staff members
- Enter and succeed in the competitive field of broadcast media
- Form independent conservative student groups and publish independent conservative campus newspapers
- Pass or defeat legislation
- Communicate the conservative message on television
- Launch and advance careers in Public Policy, U.S. Foreign Service, and Civil Service
The Institute’s Steven P.J. Wood Building has a range of facilities conveniently located in Arlington, Virginia just minutes from Washington, D.C. Institute interns enjoy comfortable, supervised housing at the Sacher Intern House a few blocks from the Steven P.J. Wood Building.
Honoree: The Calhoun Scholarship honors the late Patrick Calhoun (1918–2007), one of a handful of politically brave Arkansans who laid the foundation for the modern Republican Party of Arkansas. Pat Calhoun was raised in Kentucky and married Norma Goatcher Calhoun while stationed at Camp Robinson during World War II.
Calhoun was a member of the United States Army from 1937 to 1945 and received numerous decorations for his combat service in 1944 with the Allied Forces in France. Calhoun’s medals include the Bronze Star for Distinguished Service while engaged in an action against the enemy under hostile fire; Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in combat; Combat Infantryman Badge; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars; Good Conduct Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal: World Wat II Victory Medal; and Honorable Service Lapel Button. Calhoun also received a medal from the French government commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion and the liberation of France. He was also awarded the Diplome d’Honneur de la Medaille du Cinquantenaire conferred by the French government on veterans who qualify by virtue of service in France during WWII.
Calhoun returned to Arkansas after the war to raise a family only to find a state dominated by a single political party and controlled by “machine-politics.” Realizing that Arkansas’s economic and social progress were held back by a one-party system, Calhoun joined forces with the late Governor Winthrop Rockefeller and others to promote an alternative based on the conservative principles of the Republican Party. As a Rockefeller Reformer, Calhoun worked to fight corruption in state & local government and to establish the credibility of the Republican Party in Arkansas.
Pat Calhoun embraced the founding principles of the American Republic and fought to build a better state and country through his involvement in the political process. He was always vocal to defend the principles of limited constitutional government, free enterprise, and the dignity of all Americans. Calhoun felt an obligation to be involved in the political process, and even at an advanced age, remained committed to electing Republicans and continued to volunteer each election cycle.
Patrick Calhoun was a member of the “greatest generation” whose life was defined by duty, honor, and courage. The Calhoun Scholarship was created to honor a generation of men and women who fought to secure our freedom and pass the “torch of liberty” to future generations.
Eligibility:
To apply for one of the two Calhoun Leadership Scholarships, the eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Applicant must be a U.S. citizen and enrolled in a high school, college or university (public or private) located in the United States.
- Applicant must declare in their application letter that they will be involved in the political process both now and in the future to build a better country. (Applicants that aspire to become future U.S. or state representatives, staff, or members of the printed or broadcast media are strongly encouraged to apply.)
Entry Rules:
- In keeping with Republican ideals, scholarships are merit-based and awarded for submitting the best ideas for “party building.” The scholarship selection committee will not consider the race, gender, national origin, or religious affiliation of the applicant. (However, ideologies that are contrary to American ideals and constitutional principles will not be considered.)
- Applicants should submit a letter of introduction expressing why they wish to attend the Youth Leadership School and their reasons for their desire to be in public service. A resume should also accompany the letter and contain the student’s contact information including: school mailing address, email address, phone numbers, and hometown mailing address.
- Although not required, the applicant may want to supply a letter of recommendation from a college professor, minister, or public official attesting to the applicant’s good character.
- Applicant must complete the Public Policy Questionnaire on the scholarship website and a printed copy of the questionnaire must accompany the essay. If the applicant is not familiar with some of the organizations, issues and people on the questionnaire, the applicant is encouraged to research them before providing answers. Only completed questionnaires will be considered.
- Applicants, inquiries and resumes should be addressed to the Director of Youth Leadership Schools as follows:
- Ms. Carly Tomaine
Leadership Institute
1101 N. Highland Street
Arlington, Virginia 22201
(email) CTomaine@leadershipinstitute.org
(Office) 703-647-2321
- Ms. Carly Tomaine
- Applicants should submit their letter and resume as early as possible. The program registration will launch on May 1, and is expected to fill up before June 15. Applications will not be accepted after June 25, 2025.
“We have a responsibility to the next generation to promote, protect, and preserve those values that have made America a beacon of liberty to the rest of the world.”
~ Patrick Calhoun