UWW Students Win Alumni Association Awards
Two University Without Walls students have won 2024 awards from the UMass Amherst Alumni Association. May 2024 graduate Megan Ussery took home the Senior Leadership Award, while current student Lauren Leonardis secured the William F. Field Alumni Scholar Award.
Megan is a thirty-seven-year-old parent of three and military spouse from the Seattle area who completed her bachelor's degree summa cum laude in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in social justice and advocacy. She was inspired to return to school by "continually fighting racism we encountered within the health care system, educational system, and within every aspect of our lives, I wanted to learn more and become a better, more informed advocate … UWW stood out to me because of their commitment to social justice work. Their Social Justice Residency weekend was a huge draw for me and it did not disappoint." This fall, Megan started a master's degree in education in equity and social justice at Boston University's Wheelock College, and she hopes to create a program to "help teens like mine feel seen and have a space to grow while learning about their history, how to be good land stewards and how to create community."
Lauren is a thirty-two-year-old mother of two and policy advocate from Western Massachusetts who is completing her degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in equity, leadership, and community engagement. She works as a consultant at her own consulting firm Mother & Changemaker Consulting, focusing on ending youth homelessness and promoting youth leadership, which is informed by her own past experience with homelessness as a young person. She says the best part about being a UWW student is "the flexibility. I have two kids, and work full time, often needing to travel for work. I could not do this if it was set up any other way." Lauren has gone from dropping out of high school, experiencing homelessness, and becoming a mother at a young age to owning her own home and business while completing her degree. Now her "main goal is to build community. It's the one thing that I truly believe can save us all."
The Senior Leadership Award recognizes graduating seniors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the UMass Amherst community. Award recipients have distinguished themselves through important contributions to student organizations, campus jobs, academic excellence, and community service. Megan's leadership includes successfully co-authoring and applying for an Advancing Community, Democracy, and Dialogue grant, which ultimately made the 2024 Social Justice Residency weekend possible, as well as restoring a salmon run near her home.
The William F. Field Alumni Scholar Awards were established in 1976 to recognize and honor third-year students for their academic achievements at UMass Amherst. The program was named in honor of William F. Field, the university’s first Dean of Students, for his outstanding support of academic excellence and his personal commitment to bringing out the best in every student. Lauren's academic achievements include a 4.0 GPA.
