The Iowa State University (ISU) Student Activities Center and United Way of Story County (UWSC) sponsored the second Nonprofit Protégé Program during the fall 2010 semester.
In this program twelve undergraduate ISU students had the opportunity to walk in the shoes of administrators of Story County nonprofit organizations. Throughout the semester, each protégé attended weekly meetings with his or her mentor. Participants also attended board meetings, experienced staff and committee meetings, visited with potential financial donors and witnessed the action packed world of nonprofit leaders.
This is not an internship experience; rather, it is an opportunity for students to directly shadow nonprofit administrators. The purpose of the program is to give students who are interested in exploring the nonprofit world a firsthand, real-life experience.
Jasmine Swyningan is an ISU senior majoring in economics with a double-minor in mathematics and women's studies. She is from St. Paul, Minnesota and has goals to work toward the growth of women's microfinance in sub-Saharan Africa at a grassroots level.
"The Non-Profit Protege Program has been a fantastic and necessary experience for my own personal growth. After an internship at a non-profit organization in Minneapolis, working with the United Way of Story County has not only built upon my current knowledge of how non-profits work, but has inspired me on a daily basis to be a larger contributor to our community. I have learned so much from Jean and the other employees about non-profit operations, and am incredibly grateful to have been able to work with such passionate and motivated individuals. I will definitely take this experience with me as I move toward my future endeavors," Swyningan commented.
Jean Kresse, UWSC’s executive director said, “Partnering with the protégé program and meeting with Jasmine each week really helped me focus on the business side of United Way of Story County. I told Jasmine in August when we began meeting that we would learn about United Way of Story County together since I just began myself in June of this year. This program offers a great way to tap into the next generation of leaders coming from Iowa State University and get them interested in the not-for-profit world.”
A celebration of the protégé program was Wednesday, December 1 at the Iowa State Memorial Union. The students made presentations about their experiences as protégés.
