Alexis

Lendermans
2017 Summary

Living My Best Life

2017 has by far been the best year of my life with many
different blessings, accomplishments as well as
challenges that have helped me develop further as the
woman I am meant to be. I chose to break up my main
highlights and accomplishments into personal, academic
and professional sections.
Your legacy is not written after you are gone. It is
written with every day of your life
Peggy Grande
 Personal Accomplishments & Highlights

In 2017, I had the opportunity to travel to 13 countries (including two study abroad programs). Just over the
summer I did a two-week European trip, then spend 6 weeks in Florence, Italy studying abroad, flew to
Norway to visit friends I met when I studied abroad in South Africa in 2016, then headed to South Korea for a
month (as my 5th study abroad) and ended my summer abroad with a trip to Japan for two weeks.

I made it my personal goal to participate in as many events that I could find on the issues of oppression, Black
Lives Matter and racial healing. Thankfully, the Arcus Center for Social Justice is very close to WMU.
Furthermore, I flew to D.C. in January to join in the Womens March on Washington and the Inauguration
protest.

One of my favorite things that Ive been able to do this year (for personal highlights) was the Night to Shine
event through the Tim Tebow Foundation to help create an unforgettable prom night experience for people
with special needs.

Last but not least, I have a new sister!!! My foster sister was officially adopted during National Adoption
Month to the most AMAZING (foster) parents anyone could ask for!
 Academic Accomplishments & Highlights

This summer, I studied abroad at Kyung Hee Universitys Global Collaborate Summer Program in Seoul, South Korea.
This program was joined by East Asia's finest universities and students from all over the world. I studied Politics and
Everyday Practice of International Humanitarianism. We discussed how politics and principles interact to shape the
priorities, practice and outcomes of humanitarian response in countries like Haiti, Afghanistan and Syria.

Nonprofit Leadership Capstone

My class acted as an executive board with
$15,000 in grant monies to award to local
nonprofits whose mission is to help
refugees and undocumented immigrants.
The organization that I was chosen to
represent, the Trauma Recovery
Associates was chosen to receive a full
grant to support their services. By
completing this course, I am now a
Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP).
For the Spring 2017 semester, I received a 4.0!!!

This year, I have been awarded several scholarships, including:

The Seita Scholarship Kalamazoo Community Foundation

The Nsoro Scholarship Scholarships: Montague Myers Scholarship,
HCoB Scholarships: Sandra Thompson Ronald C. Cavanaugh Memorial
Award, Management Achievement Award, Scholarship, Frank
American Entrepreneurship Award and Hildegarde Goodrich
Horatio Alger National Scholarship Family Scholarship

Foster Care 2 Success Scholarship Golden Key International Honors Society

TRiO scholarship Scholarship

Named the Newman Civic Fellow by President Dunn for WMU!

https://issuu.com/wmu_coehd/docs/summer_magazine_2017/10
 Washington, D.C.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader, was
said by john Quincy Adams. This is how I try to live each and every day through all of my decisions, goals, and
dreams. I was also told to lead and live as if your legacy depends on it because it does.
I was one of two students chosen to receive a full scholarship through the Ronald Reagan Foundation &
Institute to participate in the Leadership and the American Presidency Program in partnership with the Fund
for American Studies in Washington, D.C. for the semester!
While in D.C., I took full time courses at George Mason University in economics and the American Presidency.
Participating in the Leadership and the American Presidency program has challenged me and inspired me in
ways I didnt know possible. When the semester began, it wasnt the transition into D.C. life that was difficult,
because I am used to traveling and moving around a lot. It was actually the fact that I was more intimidated
by those around me more than I ever had been before. This caused me to question my identity and value to
the world around me. With that, it allowed me to build my faith and to join a local church community as well
as a small church group.
This course alone has fundamentally helped equip me for graduate school. I have been challenged to learn to
do things that I have never done before such as compose a white paper, op-ed, policy memo and a
presidential speech. Furthermore, this final project alone has put me at an advantage over my peers and has
prepared me to enter my graduate or job interviews with more confidence. My experience in D.C. has served
as a launchpad for my next professional steps for all of the reasons mentioned above and I am eternally
grateful to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and The Fund for American Studies for believing in me
enough to provide me with this incredible opportunity.
 I had the opportunity to co-
present with Ronica Hamilton
at the APLUs 2017 Project
Degree Completion Award
Ceremony Representing WMU
and the Seita Scholars
Program in D.C.!

Professional Accomplishments & Highlights

1. Starting in the Spring semester, I worked in the Career and Student Employment Services as a Peer Career
Coach which I cant wait to get back to next semester!
2. I participated in the Michigan Womens Foundation Entrepreneur You Conference in Grand Rapids and the
DesignedtoLead Conference
3. I was a Study Abroad Alumni Ambassador through the Haenicke study abroad office on campus
4. Co-organized a trip to the AllThingsDetroit event at the Eastern Market and the Charles Wright Museum in
Detroit through the Lee Honors College
5. Developed and conducted scholarship workshops through my business, The Scholarship Expert for my alma
mater, Rochester High School and Seita scholars
6. Participated in the Newman Civic Fellowship National Conference in Boston in November
7. Worked as a Policy and Programs intern at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI)

Ive participated in and attended many more events and activities than mentioned above, but these are the
highlights from 2017!
 Looking Forward

I have applied for the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Program over the summer to
prepare me further for graduate school, which I find out in March if Im accepted! (Pray for me!)
I have been nominated through Western for the Truman Scholarship (find out in March) WMU hasnt
had a Truman Scholar since 1999!
Studying abroad to Quito, Ecuador during Summer I to complete my Spanish requirements! (taking 8
credits of Spanish in the spring Yikes!)
Applied to be a National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Reviewer with the Childrens Bureau
waiting to be vetted by the FBI
Planning to apply for grants so that I am able to travel around to multiple Michigan high schools and
give scholarship workshops to foster youth to ensure they are receiving necessary information for
opportunities in higher education
I visited multiple university campuses in D.C., New York and Boston as well as career fairs to help me
narrow down graduate programs to apply to. Recently, I have decided on the Master of Foreign
Service program at Georgetown University for graduate school.

I will be graduating Spring 2019 with degrees in Entrepreneurship (BBA) and Global &
International Affairs (BA), as well as a a Certified Nonprofit Professional, and a minor in
Political Science!

I want to thank each and every person/organization who took the time to invest in me this year. I hope you
can see that your time, effort, and financial contributions went to a good cause and I will continue to do my
best to make you all proud!
https://issuu.com/wmich/docs/wmu-magazine-fall-2017/23