With Homecoming and the announcement of the Leader of the Pack scholarship just over a month away, students are finishing up essays to begin the application process.

The scholarship, awarded annually to one male and one female student, is for $1,000 and given to students who have proven leadership qualities on campus and in the community.

Last year’s recipients, Casey Coats, a senior in landscape architecture, and Paul Carruth, a senior in textile engineering, are part of the committee.

“Leader of the Pack is looking for people from different backgrounds,” Coats said. “Leadership is limited to one group.”

The application process includes the three initial essays, which are due Thursday by 5 p.m., a presentation and interview in front of a panel, followed by a student vote before the announcement at the football game against Virginia on Oct. 27.

Caruth said he enjoyed the entire application process last year.

“All the applicants were kind and welcoming, because everyone wanted the process to be smooth,” Caruth said. “The finalists all had a great time with each other — going to the Chancellor’s reception before the football game and going down on the field.”

He said the interviews and presentations were worthwhile, because they are skills students will need later in life.

“It wasn’t even really stressful,” Caruth said. “Students should go into the process and let what they’ve done speak for itself.”

Vansana Nolintha, one of last year’s finalists for the award and a senior in chemistry and art and design, agreed with Caruth, saying that each applicant should be him or herself.

“Put sincerity into your paper and the interviews,” Nolintha said. “Don’t think about what you think the committee wants to hear — they’re open-minded.”