Presidents Leadership Class - CU Boulder

top scholar program. Founded in 1972, the Presidents Leadership Class began as a conversation between William A. Douglas, Dean of Admissions, and then Assistant Director of Admissions, Terry Heineman. Heineman had attended the University of Oklahoma where he was involved with an undergraduate program similar to what PLC eventually became. After many discussions, Heineman and Douglas thought it worthwhile to initiate a similar leadership program at CU Boulder as a recruitment strategy to attract and retain Colorado’s top students. Both felt it important to involve the outstanding leaders in the state to lend additional credibility to their concept. This inclination led them to William Coors, Chairman of the Coors Corporation. The three men moved forward and developed the Presidents Leadership Class, named in honor of the university president and the corporate presidents involved in the program’s formation. The first Board of Directors included very esteemed members of the university and surrounding community: William Coors, Chairman of the Coors Corporation; Emmett Heitler, President of Samsonite Corporation; Theodore Brown, President of First National Bank of Denver; Frank Raggio, Executive at Martin-Marietta; Al Flanagan, President of Channel 9 and later President of Gannett Broadcasting; and William Douglas, Dean of Admissions, Registrar, and Financial Aid at CU Boulder. PLC Scholars receive four years of rigorous academic and experiential leadership training, fostering both intellectual and personal growth. Scholars experience a multi-dimensional program that integrates academic course work, experiential learning, service learning, community impact projects, and involvement with industry and community leaders. The various elements combine to encourage and develop the skills and character traits key to innovative success. Each year, 50 of the University of Colorado Boulder’s most talented incoming students and select rising CU sophomores enter as PLC Scholars. Each student is awarded $1,000 in their first year in the program. Once they have completed the first year, students become eligible for up to $15,000 in scholarships over the next three years of their undergraduate career. Scholarships come form various sources including: the William A. Douglas Endowment, FirstBank, El Pomar Foundation, Ball Foundation, Cecil Walker and family, the Alvin Flanagan fund, the Hoelscher Memorial Scholarship, Annabelle K. Lutz Voss Scholars, the Van Lanschoot Family Scholarship, the Leo Hill Endowment and directly from the University of Colorado.