(July 10, 2014)

Centenary student one of 12 in nation awarded fellowship

SHREVEPORT, LA — Senior sociology major, Ninjia Miles, was recently awarded a Clarence J. Jupiter Fellowship in Institutional Advancement by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). As part of her fellowship, Miles will receive job training and gain valuable experience in the advancement disciplines of alumni relations, communications, and fundraising. She will also represent Centenary College at the CASE ASAP Network Convention in St. Louis this August.

CASE is an international association of educational institutions that helps its members improve institutional advancement by building relationships with alumni and donors, raising funds, and marketing their institutions to students. Each year they award a Jupiter Fellowship to select undergraduate and graduate students of diverse backgrounds to work in the advancement field. This is the second consecutive year that Centenary has had a student selected for this prestigious fellowship opportunity.

"I'm really looking forward to attending the conference, 'Gateway to Success' later this summer," said Miles. "I can't wait to network with peers, learn tools to bring back to Centenary's Philanthropy Department, and discover best practices. It's going to be a lot of fun, too!"

Miles is one of 12 Jupiter fellows selected from applicants around the country. Each Jupiter fellow receives hands-on advancement training to gain experience in one of three areas—in Miles's case, philanthropy. Jupiter fellows are also entitled to a paid internship, CASE membership, and mentoring from a CASE professional member.

Miles will be working closely with Centenary's Assistant Director of Philanthropy Cameron Hughes '14, assisting in student philanthropy engagement, donor recognition, and general fundraising.

"My goal is to work with a non-profit organization in the future," said Miles. "A large part of that field consists of interacting with people and encouraging them to support your cause. Whether I work in development at a college or health clinic, sharpening these skills will be very beneficial to me."

CASE was founded in 1974 in a merger between the American Alumni Council and the American College Public Relations Association. It is based in Washington D.C., includes 3,600 educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, and is run by over 4,000 volunteers.