AAAP Spring 2025 Foundation President Letter

As I sat down to write our Spring newsletter, the snow has melted, and spring is upon us once more. Here's hoping this letter brings with it a little good luck and some warmer temperatures! Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone for their generous personal and corporate gifts over the last year.  The Foundation is in strong financial standing thanks to the support of our membership. 

None of the work of our Foundation could be done without the steadfast leadership of our members who volunteer their time and energy to support the next generation through scholarships, externships, and awards, as well as recognize those outstanding members who lead the way in research and service. 

Scholarship Committee Report: Kabel Robbins leads this committee.  The committee recommended awarding 21 scholarships, totaling $86,000 in awards.  We did have an increase in undergraduate awards this year.  The AAAP office will develop a method to track scholarship recipients, allowing us to better understand their career trajectories after graduation. 

With our endowments growing and education costs rising, the scholarship committee recommended last year to the Board of Directors to establish a tiered system, which will allow us to increase the dollar amount of each scholarship as the endowment grows. This strategy will better support students and generate more interest among our members in contributing to existing endowed scholarships. We know many of us choose to support certain funds to honor or memorialize friends and mentors. 

I also want to highlight a new scholarship this year that set fundraising records—the Karen Bland Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was fully funded in just a matter of days, a true testament to the profound impact Mark and Karen Bland have had on the lives of countless students and professionals in our industry. The outpouring of support was nothing short of awe-inspiring. 

Externship Committee Report: Luke Baldwin leads this committee.  We had fewer applicants for this year's externships, which is disappointing, as they offer an excellent opportunity for students to gain hands-on industry experience. As someone who participated in an externship myself, I know firsthand the difference it can make in shaping both education and career. The committee is working to streamline the communication and application process to encourage more student involvement. If you have any suggestions or are willing to host a student, please contact AAAP. 

Financial Engagement Committee Report: Travis Schaal leads the Financial Engagement Committee, which is tasked with securing financial support to fully fund all awards. Currently, five scholarships, externships, and awards are not fully funded, meaning no funds are being distributed from these until they reach the endowed level. These include: