Designed to develop tomorrow's leaders for the business world, the Roy H. Park Leadership Fellows Program at Cornell's Johnson School is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The fellowship, which offers full MBA tuition plus stipend and a cutting-edge leadership program for attracting high-caliber talent, is celebrating the milestone by connecting with its 253 alumni. A celebratory dinner that hosted more than 40 percent of past fellows and other guests, including Cornell President David Skorton, was held at the Rainbow Room in New York City, Dec. 1.

"[The program] is based on a strategic intent of attracting the best and the brightest, and creating a leadership niche," said Clint Sidle, program director. "I don't think anyone else can say they have a program like ours."

The capstone of the fellowship is a public-service leadership project, usually accomplished in teams during the students' second year. The fellows are required to complete a project that utilizes their MBA and leadership skills to help the Johnson School or the Ithaca community.

Among this year's projects are: developing an "Outdoor Adventure Program" with the Lehman Alternative Community School in Ithaca and the Ithaca Youth Bureau; creating a strategic plan for the Ithaca Free Clinic; and hosting a residential retreat called Dialogos that promotes appreciation of diversity.

Over the years, many projects that began as Park leadership service projects have had lasting impact on the school and community, such as a retreat for young girls interested in business, founded in 2002, called Camp $tart-Up. Others include student-run initiatives, such as BR Ventures, a venture capital fund, and BR Incubator, a new business incubator.

Each year's 25 incoming fellows are required to take a classroom developmental sequence that allows them to define what leadership means to them and to develop interpersonal and team skills. These skills range from shaping their ability to communicate and work well with others, to developing an understanding of how an executive might lead a company or organization through long-term change. Students are teamed up to both coach and mentor each other, which helps provide peer insight and advice.

The public-service aspect of the Park fellowship education has proven to leave a long-term impression on past fellows. According to an alumni survey conducted earlier this year, 63 percent of Park fellows reported engaging in altruism and giving, board membership and volunteer service, compared with 40 percent of their MBA counterparts.

The survey also found that Park fellows considered their Park program experience, not just their MBA education, as most influential on professional outcomes. This included such concepts as self-confidence, learning from experience, empowering others and interpersonal communication skills.

"The way we have put this together over the years has made it a powerful experience for our fellows," Sidle said.