Azure Bell
Andrew Franklin
Davis Hale
Alissa Long
Brianna McCall
Bethany Reinsch
Alisha Willett
The Lee University Office of Alumni Relations recently announced the winners of the 2025 Young Alumni Professional Development Grant.
“The Young Alumni Professional Development Grant is a powerful investment in our alumni community, empowering recent graduates to pursue career growth opportunities they might not otherwise be able to pursue,” says Andrea Patrick, director of Alumni Relations at Lee. “Whether it's attending industry conferences, earning certifications, or gaining new skills, this grant helps young alumni stay competitive and connected in an ever-evolving professional landscape.”
The YAPD Grant is open to all Lee University alumni, regardless of academic training or professional experience, as long as the individual is currently employed and within 10 years of graduating from a Lee undergraduate program.
This year’s recipients are Azure Bell, Andrew Franklin, Davis Hale, Alissa Long, Brianna McCall, Bethany Reinsch and Alisha Willett.
Ms. Bell graduated from Lee’s School of Nursing in 2020 and currently works at Erlanger East Hospital in Chattanooga as a postpartum registered nurse. The YAPD Grant will provide the means necessary for her to become a certified lactation consultant, enabling her to provide additional support for new mothers after delivery.
Mr. Franklin, a 2021 graduate with a degree in biology and psychology, is an otolaryngology resident with The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fl. He plans to use the grant funds to support a research project during his residency that he believes will help surgeons provide safer, more effective care.
Mr. Hale, also a 2021 alum, graduated from Lee’s School of Business and is in the early stages of a startup, HUAVERT Technologies, which focuses on innovative drone applications in the construction industry. The grant money afforded him the opportunity to attend the May XPONENTIAL Conference in Houston, Tx., where he was able to connect with industry leaders and explore potential partnerships.
Ms. Long graduated from Lee in 2015 with a degree in Spanish and now serves as the Middle Tennessee regional coordinator for the Isaiah 117 House, a nonprofit that supports children who have been removed from their caregivers and placed in foster care. She plans to use the grant funds to pursue additional training in leadership and trauma care, equipping her to better support not only the children served at the House but also the caseworkers, foster families, and her team of volunteers.
Ms. McCall, a civil engineer with the USDA Forest Service, graduated from Lee in 2020 with a degree in mathematics and engineering. She is using the grant money to pay for her professional engineer exam and license, which is the highest standard of competence and qualification for practicing engineers.
Ms. Reinsch, a graduate teaching assistant at Kansas State University, graduated in 2024 from Lee, where she double majored in Spanish and English writing with a minor in linguistics. The grant will support a four-week French language immersion experience through the Chez Vous Normandy program, enhancing her studies at KSU, preparing her for future doctoral work, and helping her become a more effective teacher by deepening her linguistic and cultural understanding.
Ms. Willett graduated in 2023 with a degree in ministry leadership and counseling and currently serves as both an advisor with the Department of Corrections and a substance abuse counselor. With support from the YAPD grant, she is pursuing additional coursework in anger management, codependency, and domestic violence to further strengthen her counseling expertise.
According to Ms. Patrick, the Alumni Advisory Board plays a key role in the awarding process by carefully reviewing applications and selecting recipients, ensuring that the grant supports alumni with strong potential and meaningful professional goals.
“The selection process is highly competitive, and with so many impressive applicants, narrowing down the final recipients is both challenging and inspiring” says Ms. Patrick. “This collaboration not only strengthens individual career paths but also fosters a culture of lifelong learning and engagement within our alumni network.”
For more information or to apply for the YAPD Grant, email alumni@leeuniversity.edu or call (423) 614-8316.