VITAL COMMUNITIES
Application Information
| Important Dates for 2020-21 |
|
| May 30 |
Application Deadline |
| June 15 |
Decision Notification |
| June 30 |
Scholarship Awards Announced |
| July 31 |
Tuition Due |
| Sept 9 | First Session |
Online Application
Application Checklist
- Review Participant Responsibilities (below)
- Review the current session schedule to get an idea of what to expect. Agendas, locations, and day planners may change, but the general flow of the day will be similar.
- Review your calendar to make sure you are available for the 2020-21 session dates (the 2nd Wednesday of each month, September thru June).
- Complete the online application.
- Ensure 2 reference letters are submitted on your behalf. Please have the letters sent to: rob@vitalcommunities.org
- Apply before May 30. The class is limited to 30.
Tuition
- 2020-21 tuition is $1,500 per person.
- The tuition covers lectures, site fees, materials, and meals associated with each program day.
- Costs associated with travel to and from the program are the responsibility of the participants (carpooling is encouraged).
Scholarships
Scholarships
To apply for a scholarship, simply check the appropriate box on the application and we will be in touch. Decisions are made in June.
The Leon and Florence Sturman Scholarship Fund was established by longtime Thetford residents Skip and Marilyn Sturman to honor and remember Skip’s parents, who were both dedicated and well-respected community leaders in Rochester, New York. Over more than 40 years, Leon and Florence Sturman assumed leadership roles on a multitude of civic and religious boards and committees. Often acting as President or Vice President, they furthered the work of a wide range of organizations, from the United Way to the Jewish Community Federation, the Baden Street Settlement House to the Women’s Human Relations Council, the P.T.A. to the Center for Governmental Research. Together they co-founded Rochester’s Sister Cities Program and established a youth exchange program with Rehovot, Israel, for which they received a Reader’s Digest Foundation “Outstanding Achievement” award. Upon the occasion of Leon’s death, one of his law partners said, “Leon felt a very high sense of responsibility to make a contribution to society. He always felt that he had an obligation to give something back.” Certainly those words apply equally well to both Florence and Leon Sturman and help explain why this scholarship fund is a fitting tribute to two special individuals who would wholeheartedly support Leadership Upper Valley’s mission “to inspire, educate, and engage leaders to better serve Upper Valley communities.”
Partial scholarships are awarded to those who apply for scholarships that do not receive the full scholarships that are outlined above. Participants who receive partial scholarships may pay the balance themselves, have employers pay the balance, or arrange to share the balance of the tuition with their employers.
What Happens Once I Apply?
- When we receive your complete application (including two letters of recommendation), we will review it and notify you of our decision by June 1.
- If you are applying for a scholarship, you will receive further instructions with your acceptance.
- Full Tuition Payment is due July 31 for all participants.
Responsibilities of Participants
- Attend all of the sessions. Participants are allowed one excused absence.
- Prepare for session days by reviewing homework materials.
- Turn off/put away all communications devices during the sessions in order to create the best learning environment for all participants and presenters.
- Each class is required to organize and complete a service project.
Staff
Rob Schultz
Leadership Upper Valley Manager, Director of Development
Leadership UV
Leadership UV
— Rob Schultz, Leadership Upper Valley Manager, Director of Development
Rob Schultz is the Leadership Upper Valley Manager and Director of Development at Vital Communities. Most recently, he served as Area Coordinator for Granite United Way in the Upper Valley Region. Rob was Executive Director of COVER Home Repair in White River Junction for 9 years. Before working at COVER, Rob was Executive Director for the Farm & Wilderness Foundation for 8 years; helped start a corporate training center for PT Timah in Sumatra Indonesia; and ran programs for Outward Bound in Minnesota, Texas, and New Mexico. He is a graduate of Earlham College and has done graduate work at University of Maryland in International Political Economy. He lives in Hanover with his partner Diane. He sings with Thetford Chamber Singers and is an avid carpenter, cellist, wilderness traveler, and gardener.
What's Happening
Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makers
Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked the program’s [...]
Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead
Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Hero [...]
Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who [...]
A Lot Lighter with More Hands: Leadership Upper Valley
On the bright, sunny morning of June 13, Cobb Hill was waking up, and the soon-to-be graduating 2018 Leadership Upper Valley class was just arriving f [...]
Longevity & Commitment: Keynote Remarks from Heroes & Leaders 2018
Editor's Note: Many thanks to Kevin Peterson, Director of Economic Development for the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, who offe [...]
Long-Standing Stewards: Heroes & Leaders 2018
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts a Heroes & Leaders celebration to recognize individuals who make sign [...]
30 Local Leaders Graduate from Leadership Upper Valley
Vital Communities celebrated its Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2017 on June 14, in a commencement ceremony at Harpoon Brewery. Thirty of the region [...]
Closing Remarks for Heroes & Leaders from Markell Ripps
Thank you all for joining us to celebrate the young leaders who are being honored tonight, and thank you to Vital Communities for recognizing their im [...]
Meet the 2017 Heroes & Leaders Honorees
Merritt Patridge
Merritt Patridge joined the Tuck School of Business in 2015, where she serves as Executive Director of the Center for B [...]
Connection, Collaboration & Service
With the graduation of this year’s class of 30 participants, Leadership Upper Valley has trained more than 200 community leaders — from bankers to [...]
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