UNL Junior Champions Campus
Inclusion and Diversity
(Omaha, Neb. – April 21, 2021) – BL congratulates UNL Ad/PR student Carina Collins, the first winner of the Bailey Lauerman Fund for Student Opportunity $5,000 scholarship which recognizes commitment to her craft and her efforts to cultivate a rich UNL campus environment by helping special needs students.
“Diversity and understanding are vital in today’s society,” Carina said. “Through my volunteer work, I have been able to develop a deeper understanding about others . . . With greater understanding and empathy, society can lift itself up.”
Carina is a 4.0 GPA student and is leading the charge to establish a Best Buddies student organization, opening later this year to promote friendship and acceptance between students and community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is active with Best Buddies and Special Olympics and also is a Nebraska Human Resources Institute Leadership mentor with Lincoln Public Schools students.
“Carina stood out as a finalist for the Bailey Lauerman scholarship because of her commitment to connecting with and empowering those with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Andrea Gaghagen, UNL scholarship chair and a member of the scholarship selection panel.
The application process for the BL Scholarship is rigorous and candidates are required to have a passion for the advertising-public relations craft, strong academics and a demonstrated commitment to diversity and community. More than 40 applicants applied for the highly competitive award, which also provides an automatic offer to participate in BL’s annual summer internship program.
“I’m honored to receive this scholarship, and I am excited for the opportunity to work at BL this summer,” Carina said.
The Bailey Lauerman Fund for Student Opportunity builds upon BL’s long-standing relationship with the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The scholarship will be available annually for sophomore and junior Ad/PR students at UNL. To apply go to MyRed. For updates about next year’s scholarship, follow BL on social.
