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.
“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.
“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).
 |
|
|
Alyssa Ashurst Second-year agribusiness major Ellijay, GA |
Shraddha Bandlamudi First-year finance and international business major Johns Creek, GA |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
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 Second-year kinesiology major Alpharetta, GA |
Linet Namuli Third-year economics major Kampala, Uganda |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
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 Fourth-year international affairs and political science major Chickamauga, GA |
|
