Emerging nonprofit leaders earn scholarships, internships

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

These students will each receive $4,500 from NextGen as part of a multi-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.

ASU American Humanics NextGen scholarship recipients are David Heyward, of New Castle, Deleware and Mary Whatcott, of Novato, CA.

David will be doing his internship with the Lincoln Family Downtown Y in Phoenix, and Mary will be interning with the American Red Cross in Colorado Springs, CO.

This group of scholarship recipients was awarded a total of $9,000. Since the establishment of the NextGen program, 44 ASU AH students have received $198,000 in NextGen scholarships. In the past, nonprofits at which NextGen awardees have interned contributed $77,320 in match monies. That means, to date, ASU AH students have received a total of $275,320 in support of the costs associated with their senior internships.

“Our American Humanics program continues to produce more NextGen scholars than any other campus in the country,” said Robert F. Ashcraft, executive director of the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation and a professor of nonprofit studies. “David and Mary are outstanding examples of the high-caliber of students we are preparing for professional roles in nonprofit organizations,” Ashcraft added.

Founded in 1980, ASU American Humanics is a program of the School of Community Resources and Development, in association with the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation (formerly the Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management). ASU is one of the leading programs in the nation, preparing future nonprofit professionals. Students pursuing American Humanics certification complete various experiential requirements including active participation in the student association, 18 credit hours of in-class coursework, and a 12 credit hour internship. For more information, visit: http://lodestar.asu.edu/academic-programs/undergraduate-programs/american-humanics.

The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation is recognized as a national leader in undergraduate and graduate nonprofit education, research and technical assistance. The ASU Lodestar Center exists to enhance the quality of life in communities through the advancement of nonprofit leadership practices and provides knowledge and tools to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, professionals, board members, donors and volunteers by offering a selection of capacity building workshops, conferences, classes, and programs. For more information, visit: http://lodestar.asu.edu.