UWSP student earns civic engagement award
Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service recognizes Allan
By Gazette staff
Tala Allan is the 2020 recipient of the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS) Young Adult Civic Engagement Award.
Allan is a Palestine native who grew up in the United Arab Emirates, where she graduated from high school. She is a senior, attending the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, majoring in chemistry with a neuroscience and behavior minor.
After graduation, Allan has plans to attend medical school.
“Her volunteer efforts have ranged from helping refugees with basic needs in the UAE, Jordan and Palestine, to coordinating international events at UW Stevens Point, to working on a crisis text line to help those dealing with mental health issues during COVID-19,” a WIPPS release said.
The civic engagement award honors a young adult who “demonstrates leadership abilities including initiative, integrity and service to others.”
The review committee also looks for “a commitment to civic engagement through building relationships throughout the community and working toward positive change.”
The scholarship is provided for by former U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, who served Wisconsin’s District 7, 1969-2011.
To be considered, applicants must be enrolled at a college, technical college, or university in the qualifying area, which includes the counties of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Washburn, and Wood.
For more information, email [email protected] or visit https://wipps.org.