• College students who will be in their last year of undergraduate study in the 2026-2027 school year and are looking for an entry level/internship position after graduation. Juniors or 5th years in their last year of college may also apply.  All students with a valid SSN within the United States of America are eligible and considered regardless of race or ethnic background.

• Resume

• Two letters of recommendation

  • LORs must be submitted to this portal. It is the applicant’s responsibility to send this link to their recommenders!

• Personal Statement 

  • Five essay response questions

• General idea of your Fall schedule and extracurricular activities for the academic school year in which the Fellowship Program cycle takes place.

• Interviews for second round applicants will be held virtually throughout May. 

• The finalists for the 2026-2027 Emerge fellowship will be selected by early June. 

• Fellows will have an orientation in August 2026 and begin their curriculum in September 2026 after Labor Day.

• From August to December, Fellows are required to participate in monthly virtual LEAP leadership development trainings that will prepare them for a job after graduation. The exact day and time of these meetings are TBD pending class schedules, but will range from 1-2 hours each session.

• In addition to these professional development workshops, Emerge fellows will be paired with multiple mentors throughout the program and must meet with their mentors at least once a month for resume review, industry insight, and workplace advice.

• Throughout the course of the fellowship, fellows will have the opportunity to research issues facing Asian and Pacific Islander communities, and collaboratively create a Community Impact Project that addresses these problems. 

• Fellows will be required to spend 30 hours during the fellowship to obtain a certificate for a professional development skill.

• Preparation for your post-graduation job search with individually tailored resume reviews, mock interviews, and application support.

• Receive mentorship from multiple mentors from LEAP’s vast network of Alumni across different industries in corporate, non-profit, and higher education. 

• Learn how to navigate culturally relevant norms and challenges instilled from API upbringings.

• Gain valuable leadership development and soft skills required to succeed in the modern-day workforce.

• Connection with other professionally-driven college seniors across the country.

• Yes, LEAP provides our Emerge Fellows with a $1,500 stipend.

• Applications will be first reviewed by LEAP staff and Emerge Alumni. If the applicant seems like a good fit for the program, they will move on to the interview stage with the LEAP Emerge Staff. 

• LEAP is looking for professionally-driven students who aspire to make a positive impact in their community. An ideal applicant would possess leadership experience in extracurriculars and working with others. Although an applicant does not need to know what career they intend on pursuing after graduation, they should understand their values and what motivates them to get out of bed in the morning. Emerge fellows should be curious and willing to learn throughout every step of the fellowship. Among these base characteristics, a standout applicant is someone who desires to lift people up as they climb – a person who understands the importance of community.

• Preference is not given based on student location. Although LEAP is based in California, we highly encourage students from all over the country to apply.

• No. Although it is not required, LEAP Emerge Fellows are expected to have an adequate understanding of API issues and history.

• LEAP Emerge fellows will participate in mandatory monthly leadership development workshops with LEAP staff and partner organizations and meetings with their alumni mentors.

• Fellows also required to collaborate and produce a Community Impact Project that addresses issues faced by Asian and Pacific Islander communities by the end of their fellowship.

• Fellows will also take a professional development course to obtain a certificate.

• LEAP Emerge is designed to best prepare you for an entry level position following graduation, regardless of what that may be. We understand that there may be significant stress and anxiety during senior year where you feel like you should have the next steps figured out. With LEAP’s expansive 1000+ alumni network across all industries in corporate, non-profit, and higher education we hope to provide valuable mentorship from a diverse group of API professionals who have been in your position before. LEAP’s leadership development workshops will hone the soft skills employers expect incoming graduates to possess and prepare you for a career in your desired field.

No, Leadership Retreat Week (the one-week, in-person component of the program) will be completely covered by LEAP. This includes transportation costs, lodging, and per diems for meals.