Washburn Leadership Students Award Aleshire Grants
For 15 years, the Aleshire Venture Grant has been offered through the Washburn University's LE300: Leadership Skills Development course in partnership with the United Way and Washburn University’s Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement (previously the Leadership Institute). The Aleshire Center is a new academic department that was created through the merger of the Leadership Institute and Washburn’s Learning in the Community (LinC) programs and officially launched on July 1 after a generous gift was made to the program by Venture Grant benefactors Joe and Janet Aleshire. The program is committed to developing leaders through high-impact community-engaged learning.
The Aleshires donate $10,000, which the students award through a competitive proposal process to a Shawnee County nonprofit serving children prenatal to age 5. Over the course of the semester, students explore the process of creating a Request for Proposal, evaluating proposed programs, choosing recipients, and presenting their recommendations at a United Way board meeting.
The beneficiaries for Fall 2024 were:
- $6,500 to Community Action to enhance their Baby Basics Group, which educates new or new-again parents on topics like developmental milestones, nutritional health, safe sleep and infant care.
- $3,500 to the TARC Feeding Clinic to cover the cost of feeding therapy for children (this intensive therapy is offered at no cost to families).
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| Team M.E.D.E.C. From Left to Right Ella Oldham, Junior Secondary Biology Education from Peculiar, MO Erica Guldner, Junior Biology/Pre-Vet from Wichita, KS Colton Catoor, Junior Psychology from Topeka, KS Miranda Hillebert, Junior Nursing from Topeka, KS Danae Camacho, Senior Anthropology from Kansas City, MO |
Team Baby Steps Collective From Left to Right Ashley Heavner, Junior Mass Media from Frisco, TX McKrae Masters, Junior Communication Studies from Burlingame, KS Tiana Smith, Junior Mass Meda from Scranton, KS Alex Venegas-Flores, Junior Psychology from Topeka, KS Derica Mercer, Junior Political Science from Newton, KS |
Team C.O.R.G.J. United From Left to Right Julien Mehrens, Senior Communication Studies from Topeka, KS Olivia Ndugu, Senior Psychology from Topeka, KS Rhen Calhoon, Senior Biology/Pre-Med from Topeka, KS Grace Keating, Junior Communication Studies from Topeka, KS Cara Brockmeyer, Junior Health Services Administration from Andover, KS |