Lillian E. Smith was one of the first writers from the South to publicly address the need to end racial segregation in America. From her home in the mountains of northeast Georgia, Smith wrote two novels, along with several books and numerous articles and essays on social justice, diversity, and equality. The Lillian E. Smith Scholars Program encourages students to fully explore the values and convictions that shaped the life and work of this great humanitarian. By developing skills of critical and creative thinking, enhanced by real-life experiences far beyond the classroom, LES Scholars emerge from this program with a heightened sense of empathy, innovation, and personal responsibility – qualities useful for a number of occupations in non-profits and human services. Annually renewable scholarships are available.
The LES Scholars Program encourages students to fully explore the values and convictions that shaped the life and work of this great humanitarian. By developing skills of critical and creative thinking, enhanced by real-life experiences far beyond the classroom, LES Scholars emerge from this program with a heightened sense of empathy, innovation, and personal responsibility – qualities useful for a number of occupations in non-profits and human services. Students in the program will be expected to complete a minor in Social Justice, and they must pass the Lillian E. Smith Studies course. One of their three Compass Points must be in Social Ethics. Finally, they will be required to compile a portfolio of ten pre-approved activities outside regular coursework, which may include attending lectures or conferences, volunteer work, internships, etc. LES Scholars will be recognized for their achievements at Commencement. They will also be presented with a framed certificate, and their names will be listed on a plaque at the LES Center. Piedmont University is seeking donations for scholarships for the LES Scholars. We are grateful for annual donations that will support these exceptional students as well as major and planned gifts that can endow the scholarships in perpetuity. Please contact Matthew Teutsch, director of the LES Center, if you are interested in supporting our students.
To receive recognition as an LES Scholar upon graduation, you must:
- Minor in Social Justice, including completion of IDIS 3500: Lillian E. Smith Studies course
- Complete a Compass project addressing Social Ethics
- Compile an LES Portfolio documenting 3 relevant activities per academic year while in the program. These activities must be pre-approved and non-retroactive (lectures, volunteer experiences, etc.)
- Compose and present LES Personal Manifesto (a document in which you synthesize your portfolio activities and explain how they support the legacy of Lillian Smith and your efforts to address a social justice issue)
- Have a 3.5 GPA upon graduation