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PROPEL Rural Scholars

Fifteen undergraduate UGA students committed to boosting Georgia’s rural communities were named as 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 2022 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. We need to be intentional with rural communities to help ensure that they are able to facilitate and maximize growth.”
-Hannah Willerson, 2022-2023 PROPEL Rural Scholar

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. PROPEL communities include: Appling County, Baldwin County, Ben Hill County, Burke County, Crisp County, Emanuel County, Grady County, Marion County, Pulaski County, Washington County and the Lower Chattahoochee Council of Governments (Clay, Quitman, Randolph and Stewart counties).

PROPEL Rural Scholars: 

Halle Bynum

Alex Crabb

Halle Bynum

Accounting major and biology minor with a certificate in entrepreneurship and personal leadership

Fitzgerald, GA

Alex Crabb

Civil engineering major

Dacula, GA

 

 

Andrea Fernando

Margaret Hart

Andrea Fernando

Health promotion major with an emphasis in behavioral medicine

Baxley, GA

Margaret Hart

Political science/international affairs major

Alpharetta, GA

 

 

Michael Howard

Hendley Jones

Michael Howard

Agricultural and applied economics major

Hartwell, GA

Hendley Jones

Political science major

Monroe, GA

 

 

Laura Kelley

Caleb Kerr

Laura Kelley

Political science and public relations major

Dawsonville, GA

Caleb Kerr

Agricultural and applied economics/international affairs major

Plymouth, MA

 

 

Katelyn Matthews

Harper Pendley

Katelyn Matthews

Sociology major

Buford, GA

Harper Pendley

Health promotion and behavior major

Athens, GA

 

 

Isabelle Philip Ambar Reyna-Montanez

Isabelle Philip

Political science and international affairs major

Malden, MA

Ambar Reyna-Montanez

Landscape architecture major

Canton, GA

 

 

Kevin Vega

Morgan White

Kevin Vega

International affairs and economics major

Austell, GA

Morgan White

Biology pre-medicine major

Ellijay, GA

 

 

Elena Zhang

 

Elena Zhang

Sociology, intended english education major

Guangzhou, Guangdong