North Texas Daily

Andrew Freeman / Staff Writer

Graduate student Stephanie Reid earned a $4,500 award through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, a nationally competitive scholarship given to students who are seeking a certificate in nonprofit management and leadership through the NPLA.

Applicants also had to be active within a nonprofit organization for at least 300 hours to receive the award.

“My nonprofit organization is Frisco Cares, a health clinic that serves the uninsured in Collin and Denton county,” Reid said. “I started with them last semester, and am fulfilling the last half of my hours this semester.”

Once Reid has finished her hours, she will receive the last half of her award money. Fortunately, working towards the certificate while working with Frisco Cares has the perks of its own, seeing as working with the clinic is what she wants to do with the NPLA certificate.

“I am hopefully able to apply my skills to the clinic as I learn them,” Reid said. “Not to mention it’s really a great addition to my resume and portfolio.”

UNT has been an affiliate of the NPLA since 1998, along with around 50 other campuses across the country.

“Stephanie is the 23rd UNT student to receive the award since 2007,” Rachel Reed, campus director of the UNT Nonprofit Leadership Alliance program, said. “It’s a very competitive program and it’s an accomplishment when our students receive this award, competing against so many campuses for a very limited pool of funds.”

Reed has been campus director for the program for two and a half years and has worked very closely with the students for which she writes recommendation letters.

She said Reid stands out because she is a “non-traditional student,” having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts back in 2002.

“[It’s impressive that] she is coming back for the NPLA certificate and a UNT certificate for volunteer work,” Reed said. “She has had more experience than most applicants.”

According to the NPLA website, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance strengthens,“the leadership of the social sector to sustain the ability of nonprofits to fulfill their missions with a talented and prepared workforce. We accomplish this by partnering with colleges and universities to prepare, certify and connect young people to careers with our nonprofit partners.”

Since 1948, the NPLA has been connecting students to internships with the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, the YMCA of the USA, Girl Scouts of the USA and the National Urban League.

Last semester, three students from UNT received this award.

“I’m a definite advocate for the NPLA,” Reid said. “I’ve learned a lot and I’m excited about learning the skills immediately applicable. Before, I was just reading, but now I am able to be hands-on in real life.”