In 1974, Metro State launched one of the country’s first programs to train undergraduates for careers in the nonprofit sector. To celebrate its first 30 years, the Center for Nonprofit Organization Administration (NOA) has launched a $10,000 scholarship endowment campaign and awarded its first Nonprofit Professional Scholarships. Cally Christiansen and Nick Savarese will each receive $1,000 awards to continue their educations in nonprofit administration. The awards will be made at NOA’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, Sept. 29 at the Mile High Station.

To date, more than 1,000 people have participated in Metro’s nonprofit administration program. NOA graduates have gone on to start organizations such as FACES, the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center and the Northeast Women’s Center; they have become executive directors of major nonprofits like Girls, Inc. and Arapahoe Volunteers; and they have served as case workers and field professionals in countless jobs throughout Denver and Colorado.

At present, Metro offers the only bachelor’s degree in nonprofit administration in the Rocky Mountain region.

“This anniversary is about raising money for the scholarship and recognizing alumni who have graduated from Metro and gone on to do great things in the nonprofit community,” explains Kelly Felice (’87), NOA’s director and faculty member in the Department of Human Services. “We also want to showcase recent alums to employers. The caliber of people we’re graduating is excellent.”