American Humanics graduates first students
The American Humanics Nonprofit Management Certification Program conferred the program’s first certifications at Georgia College & State University following the spring graduation. Six students received their certifications from the two year old program, which is offered from the Office of Academic Engagement (formerly Office of Experiential Learning).
American Humanics is a national partnership between 75 colleges and universities, 25 nationally known nonprofit organizations and American Humanics, Inc., a nonprofit located in Kansas City, Missouri. Their mission is to prepare degree seeking students with the necessary skills to become future professional leaders in the rapidly growing sector.
According to AH Campus Executive Director Sara Faircloth, the nonprofit sector has had an explosive growth over the last 20 years. The trend is expected to continue as more and more social, community and economic development services are contracted out to private nonprofits.
“The most exciting thing about the AH program at GC&SU is that our students, faculty and administration have been so responsive,” said Faircloth. “Our students are not only doing the course work that is necessary, they are working within the AH Student Association to develop planning, fund raising and a variety of other skills.
Another key aspect of the program is the required supervised internship. We actually have more internship opportunities than we can handle. They are highly structured and must include participation in the management process of the host organization.”
According to Faircloth AH students have done internship as far away as Washington, D.C. and the Northern Virginia area to right here on the GC&SU campus. Senior Nicolas Bruner, an AH student majoring in Political Science serves as intern to the Coverdell Institute. Nonprofit professionals in Georgia have also served as mentors for many of the AH students.
The first student to enroll in the AH program when it was offered in Fall of 2003 is the best example of all the things AH has to offer. Spring graduate and History major Josh Kitchens, recognized as outstanding Arts and Sciences graduate, was awarded a fellowship by Arizona State University which allowed him to travel, paid him a stipend and brought money into the AH program to benefit students. Additionally he served on the national committee which plans the American Humanics annual Management Institute.
Kitchens served his internship as an archivist at The Memorial Foundation of the Germmana Colonies in Culpepper, Virginia between his junior and senior year. One month before his graduation the organization’s board created a full time position for him and recruited him to come to work as their Museum Director.
American Humanics is open to all majors and all class levels. For more information contact Sara Faircloth in the Office of Academic Engagement at 445-3209 or by email at sara.faircloth@gcsu.edu.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Aug 12 2005. Filed under Other.
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