Clark University is announcing the Shaich Scholars program for students who believe true leadership is not just about pursuing status, but about finding direction, conviction, and meaning in their lives and careers. The scholarships will empower students who are seeking resources, mentoring, and opportunities to achieve what matters most to them.
The initiative is funded by Ron Shaich ’76, a pioneering entrepreneur and business leader best known for founding and growing Panera Bread, and for reimagining the fast-casual dining experience in restaurants like Au Bon Pain, Cava, Tatte Bakery and Café, Life Alive, and Level 99. He also founded Act III Holdings, a personal investment vehicle focused on purpose-driven, sustainable brands.
Shaich is the author of “Know What Matters: Lessons from a Lifetime of Transformations” (Harvard Business Review Press, 2023), in which he distills and shares lessons on leadership, positive change, and long-term thinking from his decades of business success. His is a story of purpose, clarity, and relentless action tethered to the values we share at Clark.
Participation in the Shaich Scholars program will be by invitation extended to select newly admitted first-year students. Collectively, Shaich’s Scholars represent a prestigious leadership cohort of 50 admitted students chosen annually from the more than 10,000 applications the University receives.
What Shaich Scholars will gain:
- Direct access to Ron Shaich through annual master classes and curated cohort conversations.
- Mentorship from members of his network across multiple mission-aligned ventures.
- Shaich Playbook workshops on focus, prioritization, values-aligned decision-making, and execution.
- Career Design small-group conversations tailored to internships, research, venture creation, and mission-driven work.
- Up to $5,000 in experiential-learning support for the second summer after enrollment, and an additional $5,000 for the following summer.
The Shaich Scholars program is centered on impact — accelerating opportunity, enhancing networks, and building credibility through direct alumni investment in our students. For more information about the project, please contact admissions@clarku.edu.
