Drs. Fred and Fran Pestello Legacy of Leadership Award

FOR THE 26-27 ACADEMIC YEAR

The Fred and Fran Pestello Legacy of Leadership Award, presented by the Saint Louis University Student Government Association, honors one outstanding student who exemplifies the defining pillars of Drs. Fred and Fran Pestello’s leadership and legacy at SLU. Through their dedication and impact, the awardee embodies the spirit of transformational leadership that the Pestello’s inspired throughout their tenure at SLU.

For an undergraduate student who will be in their Freshman, Sophomore, or Junior year of study in the 26-27 academic year. Student must submit a letter of recommendation and write a short written essay on the defining pillars of Drs. Fred and Fran Pestello’s leadership and legacy. Preference will be given to students from a disadvantaged background as defined by the NIH.

Award
$7500 up to Cost of Attendance
Deadline
04/06/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. What will your year of study be in the 26-27 academic year (Fall 2026/Spring 2027)? This award is for students with a classification of either freshman, sophomore, or junior in the 26-27 academic year:
  2. Please provide a name and valid SLU email address of a faculty or staff member that can provide a letter of recommendation. Letter of recommendation requests are sent automatically via email from the Scholarship Suite after you enter the recommender's email address and submit your applications. For this reason, your recommender should hear from YOU first before they receive the automatic email. This way you can make sure they are willing to write a positive and descriptive letter AND you can prepare them for the automatic email request from the Scholarship Suite.
  3. Please write below a short written essay description of how the defining pillars of Drs. Fred and Fran Pestello’s leadership and legacy (noted below) are displayed in your life and actions: 1. Commitment to the Jesuit Mission: Upholds SLU’s Jesuit values of education, ethics, and service to others. 2. Academic Excellence: Maintains strong academic record and program involvement. 3. Community Service: Serves in the St. Louis community through outreach and/or volunteerism. 4. Social Justice: Advocates for equity, inclusion, and meaningful change on campus and beyond. 5. Institutional Development: Demonstrates active participation in making SLU a better place, through on-campus leadership, research, or other roles.