16th Annual Sheryl A. Blair Scholarships

Established in 2007 to honor the memory of former ADRP board member Sheryl Blair, the Sheryl A. Blair Scholarship provides up to ten stipends of $1,000 to newcomers and experienced professionals in the donor relations/stewardship field to cover ADRP International Conference expenses. Recipients are responsible for covering expenses beyond the scholarship award amount. Blair Scholars will be recognized at the 2023 ADRP Annual International Conference.

Learn more about Sheryl A. Blair.

 

2023 Sheryl A. Blair Scholarship Recipients

Olga Seredyuk, Director for Donor Care, Youth Reach International

Lauren Galván, Annual Giving & Stewardship Manager, National Scleroderma Foundation

Sandra Mueller, Communications Content Specialist, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Loressa De Torres, Donor Relations Officer, BC Children's Hospital Foundation

Rochele Alicia M. Roura-Foster, Assistant Director of Donor Relations, University of the Pacific

Kelsie Walker, Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship, Ball State University Foundation

Catherine Peterman, Sr. Development Associate, Pace University

Jeffery Corbett, Sr Director Volunteer Relations & Programs, Stillwater Medical Foundation

Melinda G Torres, Donor Service Manager, Paralyzed Veterans of America/PVA

Adrianne A. DeWeese, Assistant Director of Philanthropy, Rockhurst High School

Jordan Marshall, Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations, Central Michigan University

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants must:

  1. Be an ADRP member
  2. Hold a position focused mainly on donor relations or stewardship
  3. Wish to participate in the ADRP 2023 Annual International Conference

Before applying, please carefully review the difference between the "Newcomer" and "Experienced Professional" categories:

Newcomer: Has been in current position for fewer than two years and worked in a fundraising, development, or advancement capacity for fewer than four years.

Experienced Professional: Has been in current position for more than two years and worked in a fundraising, development, or advancement capacity for more than four years.

Note: Priority will be given to those applicants whose attendance at the 2022 ADRP International Conference is their only opportunity for professional development for the year.

Selection and Application Details

Application Deadline & Notification Timeline

Applications are now closed. Thank you to all who submitted.  

Selected Applicants

Recipients will receive admission to the ADRP 2023 20th Annual International Conference, taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota October 5-7.

Application Preparation

Please consider the following questions in preparation for submitting your application. Written questions have a limit of 300 words. 

  1. Nominee/nominator contact information (name, title, address, phone, email)
  2. Organization name, type, size
  3. Experience level (years in donor relations, years in current position)
  4. Membership and volunteer status
  5. Background: Share your story and describe how your educational and professional background experience have led you to your current role
  6. Statement of financial need: Has COVID-19 impacted your employment status or your ability to participate in professional development opportunities? Please include details of resource constraints, loss of income due to furlough/lay-offs, contract losses, and other financial distress due to COVID-19.
  7. If you are a current ADRP member, would not receiving this scholarship affect your membership status?
  8. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: How is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion part of your personal and work mission?
  9. How will you bring a diverse perspective to ADRP?
  10. Challenges/opportunities: What challenges and/or opportunities do you or the stewardship/donor relations program at your organization face? How would an ADRP membership help you address these challenges/take advantage of these opportunities?
  11. Future aspirations: Where do you hope your career will take you?

 

2022 Sheryl A. Blair Scholarship Recipients

Newcomers
Daniel Minich
Colombe Nadeau-O’Shea
Caitlin Long
Christian DaPonte
Chelsea Poch
Rachael Nakamura

Experienced Professionals
Sarah Barrera
Lauren Fletcher
Rebecca Geragosian
Courtney Bennett
Debbie Meyers

 

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-341-0014.