Gwen Wong Leadership Award

Photo of Gwen Wong

Purpose:

The Gwen Wong Leadership Award (GWLA), created in March 2025, honors the pioneering leadership of Gwen Wong, who helped pioneer Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) Philippines in 1953. This award recognizes IVCF student leaders who have demonstrated bold, trailblazing leadership by starting new initiatives, establishing chapters, or expanding ministry in challenging contexts—following Gwen Wong’s legacy of breaking new ground and building student-led movements.

By investing in students who have already demonstrated pioneering leadership, this award affirms their service while equipping them for even greater impact in their remaining academic years and beyond.

Award:

The award covers the registration fee for the annual Kawayan Camp. The number of recipients depends on the annual earnings of the Gwen Wong Scholarship Fund, a legacy gift given to IVCF Philippines by the Gwen Wong Foundation in memory of Gwen Wong who passed away in 2018.

Award Committee:

The Gwen Wong Leadership Award (GWLA) committee will be composed of the Field Director, the three Regional Directors on the Senior Leadership Team, and the BOT Student Representatives. The committee will be chaired by the Field Director or if the position is vacant, by one of the BOT Student Representatives. Their committee membership is co-terminus with their leadership positions.

Eligibility:

To qualify, candidates must demonstrate significant pioneering leadership in IVCF ministry through one or more of the following accomplishments:

  • Pioneered or co-founded an IVCF/ISCF chapter at their institution or another campus
  • Led the revival or reestablishment of a dormant IVCF chapter
  • Served as IVCF chapter president in a context with minimal or no IVCF staff support
  • Spearheaded significant ministry expansion (e.g., launching multiple Bible studies, establishing new ministry programs, or reaching previously unreached student populations)

Additional Requirements:

  1. Active IVCF member for at least two years (including ISCF membership)
  2. Good academic standing
  3. Documentation of pioneering leadership (letters, official recognition, etc.)
  4. Availability for the full Kawayan Camp

Process:

The selection process opens four months before the scheduled Kawayan Camp and closes six weeks prior to the camp start date.

  1. The GWLA issues a call for nominees via email and on IVCF social media accounts. Staff, volunteers, IVCF chapters, or fellow students may nominate a candidate. Previous nominees (non-winners) may be nominated again. Past recipients are ineligible.
  2. The GWLA Committee receives and evaluates the nominations based on eligibility. Eligible candidates are informed of their nominations, the process for selection, and asked for further documentation.
  3. The GWLA Committee evaluates the documents of eligible candidates.
  4. The GWLA Committee conducts panel interviews with eligible candidates.
  5. The GWLA selects the awardee(s) based on criteria.
  6. Selected awardees are informed via email and publicly announced.
  7. Recipients are publicly recognized at the IVCF Annual Corporation Meeting as “Gwen Wong Leadership Awardees,” affirming their significant contributions to IVCF ministry.
  8. Post-Camp Commitment: Recipients commit to mentoring emerging leaders and sharing insights from both their pioneering experience and camp training with their home chapters and the broader IVCF community.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Demonstration of Pioneering Leadership (50%): Evidence of having initiated, established, or significantly expanded IVCF ministry
  • Impact and Legacy (30%): Measurable results and sustainability of pioneering efforts
  • Personal Reflection and Vision (20%): Insight gained from pioneering experience and future ministry aspirations

Required Documentation:

  1. Completed scholarship application form
  2. Two recommendation letters: one from an IVCF staff or volunteer and one from a fellow student or faculty who can attest to the candidate’s pioneering leadership
  3. Personal essay (750 words maximum) describing specific pioneering initiatives, challenges overcome, and lessons learned integrated with reflections on the life and ministry of Gwen Wong.
  4. Official transcript