Indiana State University Newsroom

Members of an Indiana State University student organization and a class are working together to make a difference in Terre Haute.

At the same time, they're working with their professor to spread the word about a name change for their organization.

The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, formerly known as American Humanics, is partnering with Nathan Schaumleffel's class, Recreation and Sport Management 150: Introduction to Nonprofit Management, to perform a variety of service projects in Terre Haute.

They recently joined together to raise money for Autism Speaks Now, a non-profit organization designed to raise money and awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorder and research.

The annual Terre Haute Walk Now for Autism Speaks Walk was held in October, and students from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and the recreation and sport management class helped run the event.

"Student workers helped set up and take down," said Keenen Stevenson of Gary, a junior public relations and electronic media major and chairperson of Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. "We did the project because of the interest in autism."

By asking for donations from various organizations and businesses in the Wabash Valley, the group raised more than $1,000 for Autism Speaks. "This class teaches us about service learning and community engagement, which follows ISU's strategic plan and mission statement," Stevenson said. "On the management aspect, it teaches you how to conduct business properly in the nonprofit sector."

Though some of the students in the class are also members of Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, some are simply students who thought the class would be interesting.

"This class kind of gives people in here a chance to do things like help out at Happiness Bag," said Amanda Bechtel, a senior human development major from Plainville. "We learn about non-profit organizations, what they are and how they work and their importance in our country."

Nonprofit Leadership Alliance hosts a cookie and hot chocolate sale every other weekend to raise money for trips for the Happiness Bag, a local non-profit organization that provides recreational and educationally oriented programs and services for individuals with disabilities.

Because the organization is focused on nonprofit leadership, changing the name from American Humanics to Nonprofit Leadership Alliance was logical, according to members of the American Humanics Board of Directors who chose, in March 2010, to change the name.

"Our mission is essentially to prepare and certify college students to be nonprofit professionals," said Schaumleffel, assistant professor of recreation and sport management and campus director of Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.

Now, the name of the organization matches the mission of the organization.

"For ISU, having a more recognizable name, it's going to do wonders for us in terms of student recruitment and retention into the program," Schaumleffel said.

Contact: Nathan Schaumleffel, assistant professor of recreation and sport management and campus director of Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, 812-237-2189 or Nathan.schaumleffel@indstate.edu

Writer: Lana Schrock, media relations assistant, Communications and Marketing, 812-237-3373 or lschrock1@indstate.edu