Omicron Delta Kappa

The National Leadership Honor Society

National Leader of the Year Award

The application process has closed for this year and will reopen in Fall 2023.

The recipient of the Dougherty National Leader of the Year honor receives a $4,000 award, and each of the top individuals in the five pillars of campus life receive a $1,000 award. Applicants will choose which of the six awards to apply for, and can apply for as many as desired. However, an applicant is limited to only winning one award.

Each award application requires completion of written statements, a resume and transcript, and contact information for a reference(s). Applicants may be asked to interview via Zoom with the National Awards Committee as part of the review process. Applications are not considered complete until the student submits all required elements, and each reference uploads their letter.

Students interested in applying may schedule a time to speak with Jamie Bouldin, Director for Membership Services, or contact O∆K at programs@odk.org with questions.

Beginning in Fall 2022, all undergraduate members are eligible to apply for National Leader of the Year (NLOY) honors. Applicants must be a current undergraduate student at the time of their application, but may graduate and/or transition to graduate school during the selection process. Multiple students from one institution may apply. (Note to advisors: There is no longer a requirement for students to be designated Circle Leader of the Year prior to applying for NLOY.)

The Omicron Delta Kappa National Leader of the Year program is named in memory of Gen. Russell E. Dougherty, United States Air Force. Gen. Dougherty (University of Louisville, 1947) was one of the Air Force’s best thinkers and planners and served as NATO’s Allied Command Europe headquarters chief of staff, commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command, and executive director of the U.S. Air Force Association. Read more about past leader of the year recipients here:

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