Shepherd University receives grant from Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

Shepherd University has received a $172,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation which will allow the university to establish a new Rising Leaders Program. The new program will be embedded within an existing college readiness program called L.E.A.D.S. (Leadership. Education. Action. Development. Service.) and will give rising seniors throughout West Virginia the opportunity to explore civic engagement topics, self-discovery topics, and college readiness.

According to an article on Shepherd University's website, Julia Franks, who serves as the chief of staff for the Division of Student Affairs, was quoted as saying of the Rising Leaders Program, “The Rising Leaders program will include workshops and speakers to address the importance of giving back to one’s community and the infinite benefits of community service. The program will include helping students learn about identifying strengths and interests, empowering them to advocate for themselves and others, putting others first, gaining on-the-job skills, networking, and widening their breadth of knowledge, all while helping others.”

The grant will allow Franks and Danielle Stephenson, who is a student success coach, to expand the L.E.A.D.S. program to include the Rising Leaders Program. L.E.A.D.S. is a college readiness program that gives high school seniors the opportunity to spend a week at the university during the summer before their first year of college to become acquainted with the campus and college life. Students in L.E.A.D.S. also participate in community service projects and classroom learning, along with field trips to historic locations and places in nature.

These experiences in L.E.A.D.S. will also be mirrored in some ways within the Rising Leaders Program. Frank said, “Rising Leaders focuses on five key components to help rising high school seniors prepare for college. We want students to learn about self-discovery, be able to do some regional exploration, engage in academic experiences, learn leadership skills, and engage with their community.”

Franks noted that the Rising Leaders Program would not have been possible without the financial support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, a charitable organization which aims to, according to its website, “help people help themselves.” 

“Without the funds for this program, we wouldn’t be able to provide students with this opportunity. The goal is to alleviate the hurdles of uncertainty about a student’s future, whether that includes college, entering the workforce, or exploring additional opportunities for personal growth by exposing them to civic engagement activities,” said Franks.

The Rising Leaders Program will launch in the summer of 2026.

For more information about Shepherd University, visit the school’s website.