With the semester in full swing, our members still continue to impress. See the top headlines they made this month.
Our mission is to Build Leaders Who Make a Better World. Our members participate in volunteer events and take part in a wide range of community service initiatives. Upon graduation, they apply the interpersonal skills they've acquired to start businesses, pursue promotions, and more.
Ashley Coiscou Perez, an employee at Premier Car Wash in Millburn, New Jersey, has won a 2023 scholarship from the Car Wash Operators of New Jersey. An arts and sciences major at Rutgers University starting this fall, Perez was honored with this scholarship for her exemplary scholastic and extracurricular efforts.
During high school, Perez became a member of the NSLS. She draws inspiration from her aunt, a psychologist, and wants to study how the mind works and how we adapt to change, with a goal of becoming an industrial-organizational psychologist.
Perez is also dedicated to serving her community. She has spent countless hours helping teachers and donating to local churches and to those in the Dominican Republic, and she plans to use her experience as a child immigrant from the Dominican Republic to form an English as a Second Language group.
She also hopes to help students struggling with stress and self-confidence by forming meetings where they can openly discuss their feelings.
During her four years at Penn State Abington, Vanessa Sexton created a custom plan toward her career goals, combining classes from a variety of disciplines, including marketing, economics, music publishing, smartphone application design, and entrepreneurship, choosing electives that would improve her odds at creating a successful business.
Sexton’s experiences with fellow musicians on campus gave her the idea to create an app to connect musicians and creators with the producers, promoters, and music supervisors who can get their music in front of audiences. Now, having spent her summer building up funding to protect her intellectual property and searching for a platform to fit her needs, Sexton is enrolled in the MBA program at Penn State Great Valley this fall.
Sexton found support from her professor, John Pachence, and Peter Hornberger, director of Abington LaunchBox and management and entrepreneurship instructor. They helped her with networking to make necessary connections and with finding the resources she needed.
Joining the NSLS provided her with further support. She says about her NSLS experience, “There were great opportunities to listen to advice from business leaders from around the globe, as well as opportunities for feedback and to connect with other student leaders. It's a great resource for students looking to entrepreneurially revolutionize their fields.”
David LaPlante has dedicated himself to a career of public service. With a bachelor's degree in law enforcement from Western New England College, a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England College, a master’s degree in public administration leadership and crisis management from Norwich University, and a doctoral degree in public administration from Capella University, LaPlante's journey has led to his most recent achievement: being appointed Chief of Police in Raynham, MA.
LaPlante has earned several awards, including the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award, Helping Leaders Network Significant Leader Leaders Award, and he has dedicated himself to bettering his community through his role as an officer. He started as a patrol officer in 1996, became a detective in 2001, and was promoted sergeant in 2012 and lieutenant in 2015.
LaPlante has served his community by acting as the department’s public information officer, a National Incident-Based Reporting System representative, a Criminal Justice Information Services representative, and the department’s firearms licensing officer. He has served on several public safety and planning committees, and he designed the department’s state accreditation program and police cadet program.
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June Williams knows the value of education. She has sought it out often, starting with coursework in nursing and general studies at Henry Ford College (HFC) and the Wayne County Community College District. She also earned her bachelor’s degree in business leadership from Baker College and completed graduate-level coursework in computer information systems at Lawrence Technological University and the University of Detroit Mercy.
She went on to earn a certificate in office administration and her associate’s degree in telecommunications from HFC, and in early 2024 she will transfer to Wayne State University to study journalism and earn her second bachelor’s degree.
During her education, Williams earned several scholarships and became a student leader, joining the HFC chapter of the NSLS and serving as president of the chapter from the fall of 2018 through the winter of 2020.
Alongside all these accomplishments, Williams began her career in higher education in 2014. After working in retail, healthcare, and the automotive industry, she became a Student Support Professional at HFC. In her new role, Williams has dedicated herself to helping students feel understood and supporting them by making sure they understand the enrollment process, financial aid, and registration so they can become successful in their college career.
Read More from Henry Ford College >>
Jordynn Holley, a senior at North Carolina A&T State University majoring in mass media production, spent her summer working in a highly competitive internship with Congresswoman Alma S. Adams in Charlotte, North Carolina, representing the 12th Congressional District of North Carolina.
Working closely with the congresswoman’s media and communications team, Holley gained experience compiling press clips, crafting social media campaigns, editing impactful videos, staffing at public events, and drafting engaging press releases. Holley was able to enhance her media production skills, and she gained a valuable glimpse into politics and public service.
Ultimately, Holley felt her experience working for Congresswoman Adams empowered her to strive for excellence, and she is inspired to continue to work towards her goals.
Cicily Porter, Indiana University Northwest, has been elected as president of the IU Northwest Student Government Association after serving as founder and president of RedHawk Media on campus. Full Story > >
Brian Cary, Sam Houston State University, has been highlighted by his school after graduating with a bachelor’s in criminal justice with a goal of working with a federal or international justice organization. Full Story > >
Lois Jeremy-Greene, National University, has completed her doctorate of education in educational leadership with a specialization in instructional leadership following 33 years working in education as a math teacher and assistant principal for the New York City Department of Education. Full Story > >
Robyn Tice, Southern New Hampshire University, received the 2023 Renaissance Scholarship, which provides educational support to workers pursuing education. Tice, who has worked as a teacher, office manager and administrative assistant at the Children’s Learning Center, is pursuing a business administration degree and plans on earning a marketing degree. Full Story > >
Tracy Schober, Capella University, has been named Director of New Program Development at the Anderson Center for Autism. Schober, who is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in public administration at Capella University, along with Advanced and Executive leadership certificates through the NSLS, has served in several leadership roles during her twelve years at the Anderson Center. Full Story > >
Jarett Lea, The University of Southern Mississippi, was awarded an undergraduate scholarship by the Education Foundation of the Mississippi Society of CPAs (MSCPA) and the Hamp King Award, which is given to the most outstanding undergraduate scholarship recipient among the nine Mississippi colleges and universities that submitted a nomination for the award. Haley Milstead, also from The University of Southern Mississippi, is featured in Members in the News for the second time having earned the Ralph F. Neely Graduate Scholarship by the Education Foundation of the MSCPA. Full Story > >
Miranda Scoggan, National University, has joined the Chadron State College (CSC) faculty in the School of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences. Dr. Scoggan earned a doctorate in education with an emphasis in special education from Northcentral University and will teach special education courses for CSC. Full Story > >