Two IUPUI Students Among Governor's "Tomorrow's Leaders"

View print-quality image

Two IUPUI graduate students are among the 12 recipients of the sixth annual Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders.

The Indiana Humanities Council and the Office of the Governor will honor IUPUI students David Allison and Matthew Conrad Morrow and the other recipients during a ceremony on Tuesday (Dec. 16, 2008).

Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman will present each recipient a $1,000 cash award that the recipient can use as an educational scholarship or donate to a charity of choice. The award recognizes civic engagement and leadership.

“Civic engagement and thoughtful leadership have been at the core of our programming for all the IHC’s thirty-six years,” says Keira Amstutz, IHC president and CEO. “The Governor’s Awards for Tomorrow’s Leaders program is one of the IHC’s most public and important programs. Its mission is to highlight and reward the hard work of Indiana’s young leaders by giving them an opportunity to further the goals they cherish most.”

Matthew Morrow is earning a master’s degree in health administration and anticipates graduating in May 2009. Morrow is the founder of the IUPUI chapter of Y’ALL, a national student organization that grew out Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Following a trip to Mississippi in 2005, Matt and several other students established Y’ALL, Youth Advocating Leadership and Learning (http://www.yallrelief.org) in the spring of 2006. Y’ALL organizes student-led service trips to areas where people are living in great need due to a natural disaster. The group provides affordable service trips for students to volunteer during college breaks.

Before earning his bachelor’s degree in 2007, Matt led six trips to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans. As a graduate student at IUPUI, he has led two more trips with a third scheduled for this month.

David Allison is earning a master’s degree in history at IUPUI and expects to graduate in 2009. In 2007, he managed the development and opening of Discovery Station, Conner Prairie’s hands-on play and learning area for children aged two to eight. In his current role as experience design manager, David is developing new areas and experiences at Conner Prairie that will debut in the next few years. Allison, a former high school teacher, has been immersed in the work of Conner Prairie since he joined the staff as a summer interpreter.

"Matt and David demonstrate the commitment of IUPUI students to reach out and improve our community.  They do so while pursuing demanding graduate programs and making an impact in very different settings.  But each enhances live," says IUPUI Chancellor Charles R. Bantz.

The other recipients of the “Tomorrow’s Leaders” award are: Kent Castleman, Christina Ladan Clark, Daniel T. L. Kent, Joshua Lybolt, Greg Martz, Paul Musson, Alisa Pearson, Lidria E. Romero, Brad VanVleet and Tess Williams.

A distinguished jury of leaders from around Indiana selected the award recipients.