WSU student named McGowan Scholar
PULLMAN – William Leadingham, an International Business and Entrepreneurship double major in the College of Business at WSU, has been awarded a full tuition scholarship for his final year at WSU from the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund.
The McGowan Charitable Fund established the McGowan Scholars program, which recognizes the academic achievements and excellence of students pursuing a major offered by an accredited business school. It is designed to encourage leadership ability, interpersonal skills and a significant involvement in academic, campus and community activities. It also recognizes excellence of character, a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial potential.
Each year colleges and universities across the nation submit proposals to be selected for the McGowan Scholars program. WSU’s College of Business has been privileged to be a participant and has awarded a full-tuition scholarship for the past three years. Student eligibility is determined based on leadership capabilities and interpersonal skills, the student must contribute time and talent to campus and community, and strive for academic excellence with a minimum 3.0 GPA. They must also display intellectual curiosity and entrepreneurial potential. Students are required to submit a 1,000 word essay on contributions of McGowan to today’s business world, along with the WSU scholarship application.
When he first applied to WSU, Leadingham’s application was denied. Determined, he drove to Pullman with his parents to ask the university to reconsider and to give him the chance to prove that he would excel.
“I didn’t apply myself in high school,” Leadingham said. “But I knew that if I was given the chance I would be a real asset to the university. Being named a McGowan Scholar is such an honor, because it means that my determination has really paid off.”
Leadingham knew his reputation was at stake, and started to get involved with the university and the CB from the beginning. He participated in the college’s Business Plan Competition his sophomore year, and helped to establish a student club, Cougar Entrepreneurs, in spring 2007. After graduation in May 2009 he hopes to take part in a Chinese language immersion program in China or Taiwan, where he hopes to gain work experience while learning about the culture.
