The Larsen Leaders Academy was established in 2018 thanks to a gift from Marshall and Susan Larsen, and provides high-achieving business students enhanced academic opportunities and learning experiences to help them become top performers in industry. Academy graduates are prepared and motivated to have an immediate impact on our world.
The Transformational Experience Grant (TEG) began with the fall 2019 Larsen Leaders Academy class. Students may be awarded up to $1,000 for self-designed experiences to create their personal competitive advantage through scholarly and creative endeavors that they may normally have never experienced. The Transformational Experiences Grant is available only to Larsen students who started their Purdue Freshman year Fall 2019 - Fall 2023 (LLA sophomores, juniors and seniors only). The grant will end Spring Term 2025.
A transformational experience is one that fundamentally challenges a person's assumptions and preconceptions, possibly affecting how they understand themselves, others, and the world.
Some opportunities include, but are not limited to:
To approve TEG requests in a timely manner, the Director of the Larsen Leaders Academy will review all TEG requests.
The following items are covered by the TEG:
NOTE: The TEG reimburses students for expenses after the experience is completed and confirmed by the director of the Larsen Leaders Academy. Exceptions to this may be airfare and certain hotel expenses. For more information, contact Steve Shelby, Director of the Larsen Leaders Academy, at shelby@purdue.edu.
Larsen Leaders Academy students will submit their proposal for a Transformational Experience Grant via the application. Applications will close on March 31, 2025. International students will notify the Business Office of their submission. The Business Office will submit the international students’ information to the Glacier System for processing. International students could be subject for up to 30% in Federal taxes (which may be reimbursed depending on overall tax situation).
Student proposals should be submitted a minimum of four weeks before the Transformational Experience is to occur.
The director of the Larsen Leaders Academy will review requests on a timely basis. The director will review all submissions and forward with recommendations to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs for a final decision. The Associate Dean will approve/deny submissions. Denied submissions at all levels of the approval process will be returned to the submitting students with feedback as to why the submission was denied. Students will be notified of approved submissions by the Larsen Leaders Academy director.
The student will provide the Director of the Larsen Leaders Academy with documentation of their Transformational Experience through a 2-3-minute video. The student is encouraged to provide short segments where the experience took place, use interviews of people involved, and generally provide content that highlights their experience and the value toward their Daniels School education.
Reimbursement requests need to be completed and submitted within two weeks of the completion of the Transformational Experience activity. The student will submit expense receipts and any additional forms for travel or award payments to the Larsen Leaders Academy (LLA) office, including a Personal Payment Form.
The LLA Office will submit all information listed above (including expense receipts) to the Daniels School's Business Office for student reimbursement.
Reimbursement will be made to the student within 6-8 weeks of submission.
The Transformational Experience Grant funds can be used only by LLA students who started their Purdue Freshman year Fall 2019 - Fall 2023 (LLA sophomores, juniors and seniors only). Applications will close March 31, 2025. Students must use funding by June 30, 2025. All reimbursement documentation must be received by the Larsen Leaders Academy Director by midnight, July 25, 2024.
The Transformational Experience Grant may reimburse mileage or the least expensive mode of transportation to an event, but not both.
All students driving to/from events using university funds must be certified by the university to operate a motor vehicle. More information can be found in the Business Office.
Questions? Please contact Larsen Leaders Academy Director Steve Shelby at shelby@purdue.edu.
