The Office of Alumni Relations at Lee University has announced the winners of the second annual Young Alumni Professional Development Grant.
The YAPD Grant program supports alumni participating in initiatives, events, trainings and projects related to professional development. The grant is open to all Lee University alumni, regardless of academic major or professional experience, so long as the individual is currently employed and within ten years of graduating from a Lee undergraduate program.
“In that short period after graduation when a little help goes a long way, we want to step in and support our alumni,” said Dr. Jerome Hammond, vice president for University Relations.
The 2016 YAPD recipients are Danielle Buteau, Eddie Christopher, Emily Fawcett, Michael Hewgley, Amanda Jones and Ashley Jones.
Ms. Buteau graduated from Lee in 2009 with a degree in history. Now applying for her Georgia law license, she will be able to use the grant money to complete the final step to becoming an attorney.
Mr. Christopher, a psychology major who graduated in 2013, is presenting his original research on memory and attention at the upcoming annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science in Chicago.
“It’s an opportunity provided to me in no small part by the Lee University YAPD Grant,” said Mr. Christopher.
The grant will allow him to travel to the meeting, as well as cover registration fees and lodging.
Ms. Fawcett graduated in 2012 with a degree in music education. She is currently a member of the Organization of American Kodaly Educators and plans on attending a two-week intensive teacher training course. The grant funds will allow her registration for the course, housing during the course, as well as the annual professional membership fee for OAKE.
Mr. Hewgley received his degree in pre-med biology from Lee in 2012. The funds he receives from this grant will be used to cover the tuition for Keller Williams Realty’s BOLD course held this year in Wilmington, North Carolina. It will also cover the tuition for the Recruit Select Course.
Amanda Jones graduated in 2014 with a degree in psychology. Funds from the grant will allow her to attend training for the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. This association, according to their website, is the leading international nonprofit association for professionals incorporating horses to address mental health and personal development needs.
Ashley Jones, an English writing major who graduated in 2012, currently resides in Cleveland. She recently gained a position as Career & Technology Coordinator for the youth at the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland. This position requires her to create new means for youth to learn about science, technology, engineering and math. The YAPD Grant will offer the resources to purchase equipment and training for youth to practice STEM skills.
“I am so grateful and so excited about being awarded the YAPD Grant,” Ms. Jones said. “This tool allows me, as an employee of the club, to create a better classroom experience for our kids and challenge myself as an instructor.”
“The overwhelming feedback we’ve received is surprising,” said Patti Cawood, director of Alumni Relations at Lee. “We are truly happy to know that this grant is meeting a real need.”
For more information or to apply for the YAPD Grant, contact Cawood at pcawood@leeuniversity.edu.