UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer student-athlete Laurence Paterson was one of 12 remarkable Saginaw Valley State University students chosen to participate in the Roberts Fellowship Program for the 2014-15 academic year.
Paterson is only the second-ever Cardinal student-athlete to be selected to participate in the program. He joins former SVSU women's soccer player Kristen Tomczyk, who was chosen for the program in April of 2012.
The year-long leadership development initiative enlists a dozen students annually in both academic course work and extracurricular activities designed to enhance their potential as future political, economic and civic leaders. The program culminates in a trip to Asia to provide the Fellows with an international perspective on leadership. The previous group selected for the program will travel to Asia in May, and this class will make the journey one year later.
Paterson, a creative writing major, was selected in part for demonstrating both scholarship and leadership potential.
"I'm very lucky and more than excited to be a part of the 16th class of Roberts Fellows," said Paterson. "It's an incredible opportunity to expand my leadership skills and broaden my cultural experience, but also to explore new challenges with an incredible group of students."
Paterson, who grew up in Scotland, is a member of SVSU's soccer team. He has twice received the All Academic GLIAC Award as well as the SVSU Athletics GPA Award, given to the male and female athletes with the highest grade point average. Paterson has volunteered at SVSU for several Trunk or Treat Community Halloween Days as well as Soccer Community Youth Days, which offers free soccer clinics to youths.
The other 11 students selected to the program are Rachael Blaylock, of St. Charles; Mindy Brandenburg, of Saginaw; Dylan Kosaski, of Stanwood; Sarah Lewan, of Royal Oak; Emily Nelson, of Freeland; Bonny Rye, of Davison; Courtney Seamon, of New Lothrop; Rachel Stocki, of St. Clair; Bethany Thrun, of Garden City; Emily VanFleteren, of Troy; and Kylie Wojciechowski, of Bay City. .
To qualify, students must have completed between 48 and 100 credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 3.40 and pass a rigorous selection process. Students are chosen based upon their academic accomplishment, a record of university and community service, and other evidence of leadership potential.
"Laurence being chosen as part of the Roberts Fellowship Program is an outstanding honor," said SVSU Athletic Director Mike Watson. "He stands as a model student-athlete for SVSU through his relentless work ethic and leadership skills. As the second-ever Cardinal student-athlete chosen for the program, he embodies what the experience here at SVSU is all about."
Students selected to be Roberts Fellows will be required to complete a three-credit "Leadership Seminar" in the fall and winter semesters, within one or more academic departments. During the year, the Fellows will also meet for informal seminars and discussions with various political, business and civic leaders from throughout the Great Lakes Bay region. Andrew Swihart, professor of psychology, and Brian Thomas, associate professor of sociology, serve as the group's faculty advisors.
Established in 1999, the program is named in honor of Donna Roberts of Midland, who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to SVSU through her personal generosity and prior service on the Board of Control and the Board of Fellows. A respected attorney, business leader and philanthropist, Roberts retired from The Dow Chemical Company, where she was Secretary and Assistant General Counsel. She is an honorary director of the SVSU Foundation Board.