William Jewell College Wins Excellence in Community Relations Award

William Jewell College is the 2005 recipient of the “Excellence in Community Relations Award” presented recently during the annual American Humanics Management Institute. This award recognizes the American Humanics campus-based program that utilized innovative and effective materials and resources to raise campus and community awareness about American Humanics. Under the direction of Campus Director Kevin Shaffstall, William Jewell hosted career fairs, participated in nonprofit retreats and service projects featuring area nonprofit executives as retreat and campus speakers and committed long hours of student time to special community outreach programs.

Colin Chambers

William Jewell student Elizabeth Millas served as the Management Institute National Intern over the past year helping to plan the four-day event. Also present were: Campus Director, Kevin Shaffstall, William Jewell students Celeste Brunner, Colin Chambers, Heather Jones, Kristine Knutter, Meghan Mueller, Michelle Richards, Lauren Thompson, Katie Whitworth and Jon Wilson. William Jewell student Colin Chambers was interviewed and selected by the American Humanics national staff to serve as the Management Institute National Intern for 2006.

Kevin Shaffstall

Nearly 800 students, faculty and nonprofit leaders traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the 2005 American Humanics Management Institute, an intensive, four-day educational symposium in nonprofit management. More than 600 students from 70 colleges and universities cut their semester breaks short to gain academic credit toward the American Humanics certificate in nonprofit management. Institute activities included workshops led by local and national experts in nonprofit management, a case study simulation, networking with fellow students, faculty and nonprofit executives, and the second annual national collegiate dialogue held in collaboration with The American Assembly of Columbia University. The institute also included the 2nd Annual Nonprofit Placement Day wherein over 100 students had over 225 interviews with national nonprofit organizations, graduate schools and internship opportunities.

Elizabeth Millas

The purpose of the annual Management Institute is to expose junior and senior students to experiences they will encounter as nonprofit professionals. The Institute is considered the capstone educational experience for students enrolled in the American Humanics nonprofit management program. It is held annually between the fall and spring semesters and rotates to a different city each year.

Keynote speakers at this year’s Institute included Roxanne Spillett, President, Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Marsha Evans, President and CEO, American Red Cross; Evern Cooper, President, The UPS Foundation & Vice President, UPS Corporate Relations; Ingrid Saunders Jones, President, Coca-Cola Foundation; and Ambassador Andrew Young, Chairman, GoodWorks International.

American Humanics is a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofits dedicated to educating, preparing and certifying professionals to strengthen and lead nonprofit organizations. American Humanics is affiliated with more than 70 colleges and universities nationwide and partners with 40 national nonprofit organizations.