Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Whitney Young program to showcase student fellows

The Whitney M. Young Graduate Fellowship Program at the University of Illinois at Springfield will host a spring symposium to showcase the work of students who are current Fellows. The symposium will be held on Friday, February 20, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in conference room G in the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The fellowship program is open to full-time students who are accepted into a graduate degree program at UIS and is designed to help students pursue and complete their degrees in a timely manner. The program also aims to enhance research and leadership skills through regular seminars and by involving students in public service projects that complement their academic disciplines.

The program is named after the late Whitney M. Young Jr., former Executive Director of the National Urban league, educator, and activist. The program carries on his legacy and is focused on graduate students who are underrepresented at UIS, including ethnic and racial minorities, first generation college students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

During the symposium, current Fellows of the program will speak about both academic and public service work they have done this year in the classroom and in the community. Students have been involved with projects this year that include mentoring school-age and college students and working with a variety of community organizations.

Light refreshments will be served at the event. Those interested in becoming part of the fellowship program are also encouraged to attend. For more information about the symposium or the fellowship program, contact Cecilia Cornell, director of the program, at 206-7430.