Your Gateway to Impact
St. Louis, Missouri embodies the American spirit of progress, resilience, and community-driven change. St. Louis produces leaders who are builders, not bystanders. Our city's young leaders are tackling mental health disparities across neighborhoods, revitalizing urban communities, advancing healthcare and biotech innovation, and driving economic development across every zip code.
One Young World is the premier global forum for young changemakers—2,000+ leaders from 190+ countries solving humanity's biggest challenges. For young St. Louisans, it represents a rare and powerful honor to represent not just our state, but our nation on the world stage at what's often called the "Olympics of social good." This isn't just a trip—it's transformation that creates leaders who return with sharper perspective, global networks, and renewed energy to lead in their own communities.
The Leading St. Louis Scholarship will support exceptional young leaders who are living and making an impact in the St. Louis, Missouri area to attend the One Young World Summit 2025 in Munich, Germany, from November 3-6, 2025. The Leading St. Louis Scholarship recognizes that true leadership comes from every corner of our city. We select for merit, impact, and character—period.
This is your chance to gain what no virtual experience can offer: real cultural fluency, expanded ambition, and a sense of shared destiny with global changemakers. You'll return with playbooks from Peru, partnerships from Pakistan, and inspiration that fuels local change right here in St. Louis.
Recipient(s) will receive:
- Access to the One Young World Summit 2025 in Munich, Germany.
- Hotel accommodation in Munich between 2 - 6 November (inclusive) 2025.
- The cost of travel to and from Munich.
- Catering which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Transport between the Summit accommodation and the Summit venue.
Criteria
- Living and making an impact in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area.
- Citizen of the USA.
- Aged 18 – 30*
- Hold a valid passport.
- Demonstrate:
- Leadership Capabilities & Potential: Current leadership experience in professional, academic, or community settings with measurable outcomes and clear examples of mobilizing others or leading change
- Impact & Social Contributions: Proven commitment to positive change in St. Louis communities with tangible results that align with sustainable development goals
- Alignment with One Young World Values: Embodiment of the mission for a fair, sustainable future, with openness to cross-cultural collaboration and long-term commitment to change
- Motivation & Personal Vision: Clear articulation of how the Summit connects to personal and professional goals, with a compelling vision for post-event impact
- Communications Skills: The ability to represent St. Louis with clarity, authenticity, and professionalism on a global stage
*Most delegates are between the ages of 18 and 30. The One Young World team will consider applications from those who are older than 30, pending demonstration of appropriate personal impact, initiative, and willingness to engage. We are not able to accept applications from those who will be aged under 18 at the time of the Summit.