The Appalachian College Association is pleased to announce that the application period for the 2026 Ledford Scholars Program is now open. Eligible undergraduate students from ACA institutions are encouraged to seek funding to support their intensive research projects in either the summer or fall terms of 2026. Deadline for fully completed applications (including endorsement letters from your CAO and Faculty Mentor) is Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Visit the Ledford webpage to learn more and/or submit a proposal.
12/01/2025
Larry Hall
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The Appalachian College Association seeks proposals from undergraduate students at its member institutions for its inaugural Student Entrepreneurship for Appalachia pitch competition. This program furnishes undergraduate students from ACA member institutions with the opportunity to develop and present their innovative commercial or social entrepreneurial plans, receive valuable feedback from academic, business, and community experts, and compete for cash awards.
This program occurs in two stages. The preliminary stage provides students with the opportunity to submit their written and video pitch proposals before the end of fall semester. The final stage, in which the top proposals come together for a live competition, takes place on Friday and Saturday, March 27-28, 2026, at the Lake Junaluska Conference Center, west of Asheville, NC. Students who reach the final competition are required to attend the event. Most (if not all) expenses of the students and mentors associated with travel and lodging to Lake Junaluska are covered by the ACA.
To learn more and/or submit an application, please visit the special application webpage. Deadline for proposals has been extended to Monday, December 15, 2025.