The celebration of the first protégé program was held on Tuesday, February 2 in room 3412 of the Memorial Union.  Participating students and agencies and guests from Iowa State University (ISU) attended to celebrate the success of the pilot Protégé program. 

During the fall 2009 semester, seven undergraduate ISU students had the opportunity to walk in the shoes of administrators of Story County nonprofit organizations: The Arc of Story County, Lutheran Services of Iowa, Mainstream Living, United Way of Story County (UWSC), Volunteer Center of Story County, Youth & Shelter Services, and YWCA Ames-ISU. 

At the celebration, students presented overviews of their experiences with the nonprofit organizations and presented information on the projects they completed with the organizations.

Ruth Powell, an ISU political science student, worked with YWCA Ames-ISU and shared her experience attending meetings and working with Liz Beck , interim director of the YWCA Ames-ISU.  

Sam Harting, an ISU engineering student, worked with Mainstream Living.  His project was an accessibility audit of the UWSC office.  Harting reported that “he learned more of the importance of respect and compassion” as a result of his protégé experience. 

Meghan Roberts, another ISU engineering student, worked with UWSC.  She participated in UWSC campaign events and worked on a Story County Alliance for Philanthropy event.  Roberts noted that “she had goals but no path to get there.  This program helped her develop those paths.”

Reno Berg of Mainstream Living represented the participating agencies and stated “that seven agencies and seven students came together in the fall of 2009, took on a challenge for no college credit!”  He thanked the students for everything they did and wished them the best. 

George Micalone of the ISU Student Activities Center closed the event by announcing the ISU Protégé Program will continue in the fall of 2010 and hopes to expand to 10 students and 10 agencies.  Applications are available at the ISU Student Activities Center and are due back by March 12, 2010.  For more information, visit www.sac.iastate.edu/nppp.