Emerging nonprofit leaders earn scholarships

Three ASU American Humanics (AH) students have been awarded Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders Program (NextGen) scholarships.

Jessica Brzuskiewicz, Korbi Adams and Megan Pfleiger each will receive $4,500 from NextGen as part of a multiple-year Kellogg Foundation Grant to American Humanics Inc. to support students across the American Humanics campus affiliate network.

The NextGen scholarships support costs associated with the students’ senior internships in nonprofits.

• Adams, from Olympia, Wash., is interning with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Adams, who is the former American Humanics Student Association vice president of operations, parliamentarian and Ironman volunteer captain, is interested in education and community outreach for an orchestra.

• Brzuskiewicz, from Fountain Hills, Ariz., is interning with the American Cancer Society of Portland, Ore. She is the former American Humanics Student Association department chair for fundraising, and she is interested in working in human services or community outreach.

• Pfleiger, of Chandler, Ariz., is interning as a development intern working on a major fundraising event with the Aperture Foundation in New York. She is the current American Humanics Student Association parliamentarian, and she hopes to work for an arts-based or faith-based nonprofit in fundraising or special events.

“The financial resources necessary to complete an unpaid or low-paying internship out of state is very challenging,” says Stacey Freeman, senior program coordinator for ASU AH. “This scholarship helps bridge that financial gap – and, in turn, all three students were able to pursue an internship with an organization that they are passionate about.”

Since the establishment of the NextGen program, ASU AH students have received $45,000 in NextGen scholarships in support of their efforts. Nonprofits at which NextGen awardees have interned contributed $24,600 in match monies, providing $69,600 in total monies for these emerging leaders.

“Our AH students at ASU have competed most favorably for NextGen scholarships in the past and this round of awards is no different,” said Robert Ashcraft, director of the Lodestar Center and professor of nonprofit studies in the university’s School of Community Resources and Development. “Our students are of the highest caliber as they blend their passion for improving the social condition with core competencies in nonprofit leadership and management. The Kellogg Foundation is wise to invest in American Humanics students like Korbi, Megan and Jessica, because these are just the sort of change-makers our world needs.”

Amy Cox O’Hara, amy.ohara@asu.edu
(602) 496-0185
Lodestar Center