Illinois State PR Student Receives 2009 Richard Eikenberg Scholarship

For the first time, an Illinois State University student will be a part of the Economic Development Council (EDC) of the Bloomington-Normal Area's One Voice Fly-in to Washington, D.C. on March 10-12.

The EDC chose senior public relations major Grace Leopold as the Richard Eikenberg One Voice Scholarship participant for the trip. She will join 34 community leaders, labor representatives, business people, educators and governmental administrators for the Washington, D.C. trip.

The selection criteria for the Eikenberg scholarship included a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average, completing an essay and being in good standing at an EDC investor school.  EDC representatives said student responses to the essay questions were an important part of the selection process.

Leopold's essay responses detail student involvement or opinion about some of the local projects the EDC will advocate for during their audience with the congressional delegation.  She describes how students are involved in the McLean County Business Incubator project via research, the utilization of the Multi-Modal Transportation Center by students as well as the possibility of student jobs within an easy walking distance from campus, and the direct student involvement via the Stevenson Center for the MyEntre.Net Rural Entrepreneurship Program. 

Leopold says she has volunteered in the community at a local hospital and church.  She worked with Recycling for Families as well as interviewed community leaders for her public relations coursework.

"I recognize this opportunity as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to collaborate with a group of dedicated community servants and travel with the Once Voice Task Force," Leopold said.  "I have researched each of the projects, and I am excited to advocate for these goals because I believe they will greatly improve our local area.  I look forward to helping make McLean County a stronger economic force and better place to live through participation in the 2009 One Voice Fly-in."