MC students attend American Humanics conference

Jan. 16, 2009
Contact: Cole Piper, American Humanics Campus Director
865.981.8207;

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Nine American Humanics students from Maryville College participated in the American Humanics Management/Leadership Institute (AHMI), held Jan. 4-7 in Indianapolis, Ind. Altogether, more than 1,000 American Humanics (AH) students, alumni, faculty, nonprofit executives and volunteers attended this educational symposium in nonprofit studies, making it the conference’s largest attendance in its 36 year history.

American Humanics is a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofits dedicated to preparing the next generation of nonprofit sector leaders. Founded in 1948, American Humanics is affiliated with more than 70 colleges and universities nationwide including Maryville College, and partners with more than 60 national nonprofit organizations including March of Dimes, YMCA, and Girl Scouts of the USA.

AHMI is the capstone educational experience for college students earning AH Certification in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. It is a unique opportunity for AH students to network with nonprofit executives, participate in case studies and a national collegiate dialogue, attend workshops led by experts in nonprofit studies and participate in interviews for nonprofit professional positions. In addition, the Advanced Practitioner Seminar at AHMI provides programming for entry to mid-level nonprofit leaders as well as faculty and graduate students.

Keynote speakers and presenters included Robert Egger, founder and president of the DC Central Kitchen; Jim Morris, president of Pacers Sports and Entertainment in Indianapolis and former director of the United Nations World Food Programme; Martha Lamkin, former president, CEO and board member of Lumina Foundation for Education; Les Lenkowsky, former CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service; and Eugene R. Tempel, president of the Indiana University Foundation.

Maryville College AH Campus Director Cole Piper accompanied Maryville students Stephen Bouffioux, Cate Culbertson, Liz Embler, Atlee McSpadden, Bobby Nicholson, Ransford Sarfo, Gar Secrist, Ally Trest and Kelsey White.

Nicholson, a senior religion major at the College who has post-graduation plans to form his own nonprofit for Christian college students hoping to go into social services careers, said his experience at the AHMI reinforced his optimism regarding future goals.

"I was incredibly inspired, encouraged and helped by the staff of AHMI to realize that my future hopes of a nonprofit are a true possibility," he said. "I realized the details of what I needed to do and who I need to become to make [my nonprofit] a reality."

Maryville College is ideally situated in Maryville, Tenn., between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville, the state's third largest city. Founded in 1819, it is the 12th oldest institution of higher learning in the South and maintains an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Known for its academic rigor and its focus on the liberal arts, Maryville is where students come to stretch their minds, stretch themselves and learn how to make a difference in the world. Total enrollment for the fall 2009 semester is 1,103.