Swinging in

the New
Year!
2018 has by far been the best and one of the most
challenging years of my life with many different
blessings, accomplishments as well as challenges
that have helped me develop further as the woman I
am meant to be. In this report, I chose to break up
my main highlights and accomplishments into
personal, academic and professional sections.
ALPINE SKI HOUSE
 Professional Accomplishments & Highlights

Presentations
o Invited to speak at the annual Nsoro Starfish Ball in Atlanta, GA to raise money
for scholarships for foster youth – Also, I met TI and Shaq!
o Conducted Scholarship Expert workshops at the 2018 Jumpshot Your Future at
the Charles Wright African American Museum (for current/former foster youth)
and at Rochester High School
o Spoke at a Hope Pkgs fashion show fundraiser to raise money to fill duffel bags
and backpacks for youth transitioning into foster care and delivered them to Ennis
Center for Children in Flint, MI
o Chosen to speak at WMU’s inaugural Night of Excellence by Dean Deshpande
with a $1,000 scholarship!
o Spoke at WMU’s 1st alumni reception in San Francisco on the importance of
experiential learning
o Invited to speak at the Reagan Library’s Leadership Summit in Simi Valley, CA
Conferences
o Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U)
o Campus Compact National Conference in Indianapolis
o Entrepreneur You Women’s Conference
o Ronald Reagan Foundation & Institute’s Educational Summit in DC My business!
sponsored by HCoB ALPINE SKI HOUSE
 Named in the top 100 Women
Highlights Continued! Trailblazers for International
Women’s Day!

I was selected as one of five undergraduate students to participate in Article by Park West Foundation
the International Relations Career Challenge at John Hopkins
University in DC! We engaged in simulation exercises on promoting
social and economic inclusion of youth in society to get hands-on
experience in the decision-making process of international
development organizations within three professional roles: Research
& Policy Making, Project Management, and Campaign & Outreach.

ALPINE SKI HOUSE 3

Fall Break 2018

Invited to Speak at the

Leadership Summit at the
Reagan Library in Simi
Valley, California with my
friends, Maggie and Erick.

Met up with my class Fri., Oct. 19-

in San Francisco! Sun., Oct. 21st
Sat., Oct. 13th Mon., Oct. 15th-
Thurs. Oct. 18th

I was 1 of over 1,200 students from over

200 countries admitted into the CGI U
Conference ALPINE SKI HOUSE
as a Commitment-Maker! 4
 “What better way to end
my time at WMU than to
help implement a
leadership development
program with a foreign
service component.”

GLOBAL
LEADERS
PROGRAM

ALPINE SKI HOUSE 5

 Program Officer and Outreach Director for GLP
We pitched GLP to WMU in August and
received full approval from the study abroad
office and each college on campus by
September. We had 32 applicants in less than
a month and admitted 22 students from over
30 different majors/minors
When I met Babis Mathiou
at the CGI U Conference,
I invited him to WMU for a
Service Heroes seminar to provide us with the
necessary tools to work with refugees. He is a
professional trainer, researcher/author for
European Commission initiatives and the
manager of the NGO Babylonia.
ALPINE SKI HOUSE 6
 Foster Care Initiatives
• I helped raise $500 to fill 40 duffel bags for Hope Pkgs
which will go to youth transitioning into foster care.
Then, I had the honor of delivering them to Ennis Center
for Children in Flint, MI (the agency I went through!)
Also, we delivered another 70 to an agency in Gaylord,
MI.
• In June, I flew back from my study abroad in Quito,
Ecuador for the weekend to attend the training for the
National Youth in Transition Database Reviewer
Federal Team! I will have the opportunity to help assess
how states collect and report data on youth
transitioning out of foster care.
• An opinion article that I wrote for Youth today on how
“Colleges, Universities Should Be Pressured to Help
Students in Foster Care” was published in March!
ALPINE SKI HOUSE
Scholarships/Awards
I had the honor of receiving the:
o Bravo Scholarship
o National Society of Leadership and
Success’ State of Mind Scholarship AND
the Academic Excellence Award
o Gilman International Scholarship to
Study Abroad in Quito, Ecuador
o HCoB Management Scholarship
o College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship
o Political Science Scholarship
o Foster Club’s Outstanding Young Leader
Award
o Seita Scholarship
o Named in the top 25 Trailblazer Award
with Haworth College of Business

ALPINE SKI HOUSE8

 “IF YOUR ACTIONS
INSPIRE OTHERS TO
DREAM MORE,
LEARN MORE, DO
MORE AND BECOME
MORE, YOU ARE A
LEADER.”

—JOHN QUINCY
ADAMS

ALPINE SKI HOUSE

9
 Academic Accomplishments & Highlights

I can’t believe I was a Truman Finalist!

Other Highlights

o Finished the fall semester with a 3.88 GPA and an overall GPA of 3.74!
o I completed my P.E.A.K Project with the Signature Program in the Diversity &
Inclusion Pathway
o I was featured in 2 Giving Day campaigns (College of Arts & Sciences and the Seita
Seita Scholars Program)
o Chosen as one of top 5 performing students at WMU to appear in the WMU campaign!
o One of 3 undergrad students to serve on the Shared Gold Initiative at WMU ALPINE SKI HOUSE
Study Abroad #6 –
Ecuador (& Peru!)
I spent 8 weeks in Quito, Ecuador
in a Spanish-immersion program.
After taking two Spanish classes
at the same time in the Spring and
then taking two more together in
Ecuador, it was incredibly difficult
– but I did it!

After Ecuador, I decided to do a

week in Peru before heading back
to Michigan. This was the 20th
country that I’ve visited.

ALPINE SKI HOUSE

Best of all – I’m engaged to my best friend!

ALPINE SKI HOUSE

 Personal
Accomplishments
• Justin and I participated in a
#IChangedMyStory video campaign to talk
about overcoming the barriers of trauma,
mistrust, and everything else that comes with
being a former foster youth and how to
create the healthy relationship we both
wanted. We did another one on getting
through college and how important a positive
support system is.
• I put together a resource document for
students to help connect them to more
opportunities. (Feel free to share!)
• I met Angela Davis at WMU!
• I traveled to Washington, DC with my foster
family for a few days!
Links:
1st episode on relationships
2nd episode on support systems ALPINE SKI HOUSE
 PPIA Public Service Weekend in NY and
Georgetown
I am incredibly honored to be selected to participate in
two Public Service and International Affairs (PPIA)
Public Service Weekends to increase the participation
of traditionally underrepresented groups in public
service! The first was held at the University at Albany
focusing on accountability and integrity in public
service. The other was at Georgetown University’s
McCourt School of Public Policy and Walsh School of
Foreign Service focusing on the challenges in the
international system.
ALPINE SKI HOUSE
14
 I got baptized
and I became an
Auntie to baby
Gabe! 15
ALPINE SKI HOUSE
 • This year, I will serve as a Clinton
Global Initiative University Campus
Representative at WMU
• Over the summer, I will be traveling
to Senegal to participate in a
research-intensive study abroad
program
• Following this, I’ll head to the island
of Lesvos, Greece to volunteer in a
refugee camp with the Global
Leaders Program
• I will act as a teacher’s aid in the
Nonprofit Leadership Capstone
course (PADM 4000)
I will graduate in April with two
degrees, a certification, a minor, 8
Looking Ahead study abroad programs, countless
conferences/programs, two
fellowships, and a semester in DC!

ALPINE SKI HOUSE

MORE PHOTO
HIGHLIGHTS

ALPINE SKI HOUSE

 Alexis Lenderman
+1 (248) 460-6040

alexislenderman@yahoo.com

Currently, I am applying for fellowships/internships in the

field of international affairs, foreign policy, international
development, humanitarianism, child welfare, or
advocacy with an African focus. If you come across any
positions regarding these, please let me know!

I want to thank each and every person/organization who

took the time to invest in me this year. I hope you can see
that your time, effort, and financial contributions went to
a good cause and I will continue to do my best to make
you all proud!

THANK YOU ALPINE SKI HOUSE