News
Two University of Montana Students Chosen for NextGen Scholarship
Highly competitive national program supports next generation of nonprofit leaders
American Humanics, a national alliance dedicated to educating leaders of nonprofit organizations, recently selected University of Montana students Allie Harrison and Kelley Orteg to participate in the Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders Program (NextGen). A panel of national nonprofit leaders reviewed all student applications and elected to accept both applicants from The University of Montana into this very competitive program. Harrison and Orteg were selected after panelists considered candidates from over 40 colleges and universities over three rounds of review.
A NextGen scholarship is a nationally recognized honor that provides funding for a student to complete a 300-hour internship with a nonprofit organization, preparing that student to enter the nonprofit sector as a professional after graduation. NextGen is funded by a $5 million, multi-year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and requires all chosen applicants to complete the American Humanics certification process.
Harrison and Orteg will also be participating in a program evaluation and a multi-year longitudinal research study. This program is designed to illustrate the positive effects of competitive internship stipends on the recruitment of skilled entry-level professionals prepared to enter the nonprofit world. Orteg, a senior in Accounting, is serving her internship at Friends to Youth, an organization that provides counseling services to youth and their families. Harrison, a junior in Political Science, is serving at United Way of Missoula County, which helps to build a better community in the area of health and human services.
UM is one of the 70 campuses nationally that belong to American Humanics. For more information about the Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders Program please visit the OCE office on the UM campus in the Davidson Honors College, Room 015, contact Andrea Vernon at 243-5159, or visit the American Humanics website at www.humanics.org.
The Office for Civic Engagement (OCE), a department of the Davidson Honors College, was founded as Volunteer Action Services at the University of Montana (UM) in 1992. The OCE serves as a focal point for the UM community and residents across the state to participate in community work and civic involvement. Through various programs and projects, the OCE promotes civic engagement as a means to develop actively engaged citizens in our democratic society.
