August 6, 2019
Each year, as part of the OU-Pontiac Initiative, OU's Master of Public Administration Program provides scholarships for Pontiac nonprofit professionals to pursue a Nonprofit Management Certificate.
This year’s scholarship recipients are:
- Catherine Johnson, God Is Raising Devoted Ladies for Excellence (G.I.R.D.L.E.)
- Glen Konopaskie, Pontiac Transportation Museum
- Melissa McQueen, Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network
- Shannon Smith, Lighthouse of Oakland County
- Brent Sykes, Pontiac Youth Assistance
The scholarship recipients are working toward completing the yearlong program, which follows curriculum guidelines from the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council. Taught by executive leaders, courses cover a variety of topics in the nonprofit sector, including best practices, entrepreneurship, financial management and accountability, performance metrics, marketing and outreach.
Past scholarship winners include Kermit Williams, City of Pontiac Council President; Ryan Russell, Pastor at Woodside Bible Church and involved with Dream Center of Pontiac and the Oakland County Sherriff PAL program (also working with Healthy Pontiac, We Can! through the OU-Pontiac Initiative); Cole Yoakum, of Micah 6 and Sprout (also part of Healthy Pontiac, We Can!) and Maggie Razdar, President and Founder of Kids Standard Magazine.
The scholarship program supports the OU-Pontiac initiative’s Building Capacity for Nonprofits and Neighborhoods pillar. Other pillars include Arts and Culture, Civic Engagement, Economic and Workforce Development, Health Care and Wellness, and PK-16 Education.
To learn more about the OU-Pontiac Initiative, visit oakland.edu/studentaffairs/pontiac-initiative/.