The Lee University Office of Alumni Relations recently announced the winners of the 2021 Young Alumni Professional Development (YAPD) grant.

The Young Alumni Grant program supports alumni participating in initiatives, events, trainings, and projects related to professional development. The grant is open to all Lee University alumni, regardless of academic major or professional experience, so long as the individual is currently employed and within 10 years of graduating from a Lee undergraduate program.

“The first few years after graduation can be tough,” said Dr. Susan Ashcraft, director of alumni relations at Lee. “Our young alums are seeking their success in a challenging professional world, and the university wants to give them the support they need to reach their goals. The YAPD grant helps the young alum and allows us to continue to invest in their lives after they leave Lee.”

The 2021 YAPDG recipients include Celia Denney, Jessica Ellis, Hannah Gilstrap, Jade Goss, Sarah Hill, Caitlin Lay, Danielle Lin Hunter, Rachel McLauchlin, and Noah Schurman.

Denney graduated in 2018 with a degree in communications and will use her funds toward the tuition costs for a Master of Business Administration at Trevecca Nazarene University. She is currently the sponsorship coordinator at Justice and Mercy International in Nashville, Tennessee.

“It was truly an honor to receive this grant, and these funds were such a gift,” said Denney. “I was able to purchase books for my team at work and pay for part of my tuition and books for grad school. The books helped our development with fundraising ideas, team building, and strategic planning. My continued education is irreplaceable, and I will be forever grateful to Lee for helping me.”

Ellis graduated in 2016 with a degree in psychology. She plans to use the funds to begin her training as a certified Emotionally Focused Therapist. Now, she is working as a marriage and family therapy associate at Beauty for Ashes Counseling, LLC in South Carolina.

Gilstrap, now working as a seventh grade English and science teacher at Makua Lani Christian Academy, graduated in 2017 with a degree in K-8th education. She will use the funds toward an educational training day at Ron Clark Academy and classroom supplies.

After graduating in 2014 with a degree in discipleship ministry, Goss founded Give Co. Events, where she is the owner and lead designer. She will use the funds to work one-on-one with business coach Amanda Lairsey.

“I have had the incredible opportunity to work one-on-one with Amanda Lairsey, which has increased my business’s growth in so many ways,” said Goss. “The Young Alumni Grant has allowed me to have this invaluable time with someone that deeply cares about female entrepreneurs. I am so grateful for this opportunity and excited to see how this relationship continues to help me use our business to make positive impacts to those around me.”

Hill graduated in 2018 with a degree in elementary education. She will use the funds toward a Master of Arts in English Language Learning at Western Governors University. Hill is a fifth-grade teacher at Hamilton County Schools.

“This grant has allowed me the opportunity to purse an online master’s degree, which is helping me become better equipped to teach the English language learners in my school community,” said Hill.

Lay, a staff accountant at Life Care Centers of America, graduated from Lee in 2020 with a degree in accounting and will use the funds for her CPA exams.

Lin Hunter graduated in 2016 with a degree in biological sciences and is currently a graduate student at Colorado State University. She will be defending her PhD in March and she will use the funds to purchase Statistical Package for Social Scientists software needed to complete her dissertation research.

“The Young Alumni Grant provided me the funds I needed to purchase software so that I could finish the analyses for my PhD,” said Lin Hunter. “I’m very grateful to Lee University

for continuing to invest in me after graduation!”

McLauchlin graduated in 2021 with a degree in accounting and used the funds toward her CPA exam and study materials, which she completed. She is now a Staff Accountant at The Walls Group CPAs.

Schurman, a wellness instructor at the YMCA, graduated in 2020 with a degree in sports management and will use the funds for a NSCA Certified Physical Trainer certification.

For more information or to apply for the YAPDG, contact [email protected] or (423) 614-8316.