Nine UD alum complete leadership development program

UD alumni graduating from Public Allies Delaware include (back row, from left) Andrew Soper, AS ’05, Kristen Kemmet, AS ’05, Carson Henry, AS ’05, Emily Cress, AS ’03, and Katie Kline, CHEP ’05, and (front row, from left) Dan Amabile, AS ’05, Jane Lim, AS ’05, Rodney Hill, AS ’05, and Amy Richardson, AS ‘98.

2:24 p.m., July 3, 2006--Nine University of Delaware alumni graduated from Public Allies Delaware, a leadership development program that prepares young adults for careers in public service, at a ceremony in Wilmington June 29.

Dan Amabile, AS '05, Emily Cress, AS '03, Rodney Hill, AS '05, Carson Henry, AS '05, Kristen Kemmet, AS '05, Katie Kline, CHEP '05, Amy Richardson, AS '98, Andrew Soper, AS '05, and Jane Lim, AS '05, were among 25 students in the program's 12th class who received certificates at the end of their 10-month apprenticeships.

Public Allies Delaware is an AmeriCorps program of UD's Center for Community Research and Service, the University's focal point for community engagement and action. The program serves as a resource for young adults, ages 18-30, interested in service and community building by linking agencies that serve local communities with young leaders, who receive leadership training.

This year's class logged more than 45,000 hours of service with organizations as diverse as the Brandywine Zoo, Habitat for Humanity, 4-H after-school programs, the Sussex County AIDS Council, AIDS Delaware, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and Delaware Money School.

The class participated in initiatives designed to raise awareness among young people of the risks associated with sexually-transmitted diseases, to offer free financial education classes for the community, to employ young people, to empower those with cognitive disabilities, to educate via use of visual and performing arts, and to address issues regarding homelessness and lack of affordable housing.

“This has been the most amazing 10 months of my life,” Kline said. “It's been a great experience. I've been able to learn more about myself personally and about others. The staff has been amazing. They are always there for us.”

Kiline, from Hempstead, N.Y., worked with 5-year-old children at the Guardian Angel Childcare Center in Wilmington and assisted the head teacher with implementing lessons and planning activities. She also worked in the center's lending library, setting up a borrowing and catalogue system. She will serve as a second-year ally with Public Allies Delaware in the Wilmington office.

Soper, from Wilmington, said his experience with Public Allies led to his decision to seek a career in public service.

“It absolutely changed the way I look at things,” Soper said. “Before I joined Public Allies, I wanted to go into the private sector, but now I want to go to public service. The amount of diversity in the class, from different backgrounds to religions and races, helped me change my mind.”

Soper worked with the New Castle County Cooperative Extension/4-H at UD. He led groups during homework help and free times and created lesson plans for 4-H enrichment exercises. He also coordinated special events, including a camping trip and an open house. Soper will be pursuing his master's degree in public administration at UD.

Article by Martin Mbugua
Photo by Duane Perry

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