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PROPEL Rural Scholars

Nine undergraduate UGA students committed to boosting Georgia’s rural communities were named as inaugural PROPEL Rural Scholars at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The experiential learning opportunity is made possible through a generous $250,000 gift from the University of Georgia Foundation.

PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) is a unique public service program that launched in February to support economic and community development. PROPEL Rural Scholars will work alongside a Public Service and Outreach mentor and community leaders to conduct data analysis and other research, present findings, and help facilitate stakeholder meetings.

Greg Wilson“Leadership is the lifeblood of rural communities. This program will help start to build the next generation of leaders who can make a difference. Our PROPEL communities are excited to be working with students and will benefit from their enthusiasm and hard work,” said Greg Wilson, the institute faculty member who directs the program.

Most of the students have roots in rural Georgia and a vested interest in helping such communities thrive.

Hannah Willerson“It’s important that we reach out to rural communities because smaller towns are experiencing a faster growth rate than larger cities right now,” said Hannah Willerson, a fourth-year international affairs and political science major from Chickamauga. “We need to be intentional with rural communities to help ensure that they are able to facilitate and maximize growth.”

The PROPEL program is designed to guide low-income rural cities and counties through a multistep model to develop and execute a plan to advance their economies. Current PROPEL communities include Appling County, Grady County, Pulaski County, Washington County and the Lower Chattahoochee Council of Governments (Clay, Quitman, Randolph and Stewart counties).

PROPEL Rural Scholars: 

Alyssa Ashurst

Shraddha Bandlamudi

Alyssa Ashurst

Second-year agribusiness major

Ellijay, GA

Shraddha Bandlamudi

First-year finance and international business major

Johns Creek, GA

 

 

Reilly Grady

Avery Jainniney

 

Reilly Grady

Second-year agribusiness major and environmental law minor

Dalton, GA

Avery  Jainniney

Second-year international affairs and political science major

Appling, GA

 

 

Shreyas Kumar

Linet Namuli

 

Shreyas Kumar

Second-year kinesiology major

Alpharetta, GA

Linet Namuli

Third-year economics major

Kampala, Uganda

 

 

Chase Reece

Max White

 

Chase Reece

Third-year health promotion major and Double Dawg MPH in health policy

Hiawassee, GA

Max White

Third-year atmospheric science and economics major

Cairo, GA

 

 

Hannah Willerson  

Hannah Willerson

Fourth-year international affairs and political science major

Chickamauga, GA