WASHINGTON, D.C. [Sept. 11, 2025] — The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 ELC Scholarships, awarding $2 million in academic support to 102 outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the ELC’s flagship scholarship program, a transformative initiative that has supported over 1,100 students since its launch in 1995.
Each year, ELC Scholars are selected not only for academic excellence but for their leadership potential, community involvement, and commitment to shaping the future of global enterprise. In 2025, 70 percent of ELC Scholars are attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and 80 percent are pursuing degrees in fields critical to innovation and industry advancement, including business, STEM, health, and the arts.
“The 2025 ELC Scholars are not just students; they are future executives, creators, technologists, and visionaries,” said ELC Senior Director of Philanthropy Leah Wade. “Through this program, we’re investing in talent and the transformation of the business landscape itself.”
This year’s class also marks the official launch of the Ronald C. Parker Legacy Scholarship, honoring the late ELC President & CEO, whose unwavering advocacy and inclusive leadership helped shape the Council’s mission and impact for over a decade.
The 2025 scholarship program has been made possible through the generous support of its partners and sponsors, including 3M; Becton, Dickinson & Company; Chevron; Ecolab; Gilead Sciences; Hewlett Packard Enterprise; HP Inc.; HSBC; Johnson & Johnson; Lowe’s; Novartis; Otsuka; PepsiCo Foundation; Synchrony; The Coca-Cola Foundation; and UnitedHealth Group.
The ELC and Ford Motor Company also serve as Signature Scholarship Sponsors supporting the Alvaro L. Martins and Ann Fudge legacy scholarships, demonstrating their long-standing commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders.
ELC Gala Week: From Scholarship to Strategy
The 2025 Scholars will be formally recognized during The ELC Gala Week, from Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Throughout the week, Scholars participate in the Honors Symposium, a professional development immersion that introduces them to executive pathways, business fundamentals, and mentorship opportunities with C-suite leaders from Fortune 500 companies.
The ELC Gala Week brings together more than 3,000 attendees across six dynamic programs—from mid-level managers to CEOs—and positions the Gala as a celebration of excellence and The Council’s most important fundraising event, supporting the education and advancement of rising leaders nationwide.
ABOUT THE ELC
The Executive Leadership Council is an independent non-profit founded in 1986 that opens channels of opportunity for the development of global executives to positively impact business and our communities. Learn more here.
