Media Advisory: UB’s Prosperity Fellows to get behind-the-scenes taste of the energy driving Buffalo’s resurgence

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Thirty-four of the University at Buffalo’s most promising students – all committed to using their talents to improve Western New York’s civic and business life – take a five-day tour of projects and personalities reshaping Buffalo in a week-long seminar designed to groom and educate future area leaders.

WHO: Prentice Family Foundation’s Prosperity Fellows – students chosen for their academic talents, entrepreneurial vision and civic dedication – meet key players in Buffalo’s recovery in a series of workshops and tours. The students represent a wide background, from urban planning to mathematics to engineering to humanities.

WHEN: The program begins with a kickoff and team-building dinner Sunday, Jan. 17, and ends Friday, Jan. 22, with student presentations.

WHY: It’s an investment in Buffalo’s future as well as some of its most valuable students. “This allows these talented, promising students the opportunity to connect to some of the most important initiatives driving the positive change in the Buffalo area,” says Hadar Borden, program director for the Western New York Prosperity Fellowship Program. “The fellows will feel a sense of belonging and ownership in many of the positive initiatives going on in Western New York after this week of hands-on activities.

“This is our way to make the case for Buffalo, to help to retain these talented future leaders in Western New York and accelerate their transition from academia to the Western New York business community.”

WHAT: The week of activities revolve around this region’s key strategies for sustained economic growth, including arts/culture/tourism; health and life sciences; government and public policies; innovation and entrepreneurship; and advanced manufacturing.

The activities include service projects in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, Jan. 18; panel discussions on how government can support economic development; tours of the Steel Plant Museum; introduction to the work of PUSH Buffalo; and presentations on health sciences at the Jacobs Institute.

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: The Prentice Family Foundation’s Western New York Prosperity Scholarship is the largest annual gift given to UB, investing more than $500,000 per year and up to $25,000 per student per year.

The expanded scope of the program assimilates students covering the full spectrum of academic promise, including students studying to be doctors, social workers, scientists, writers, engineers, entrepreneurs, psychologists, public servants and economic outside-the-box thinkers who see Buffalo’s expanding immigrant and refugee population as a commercial and cultural potential, not a liability.

FULL SCHEDULE: The full calendar or events is available by going to http://academies.buffalo.edu/wnyprosperity/fellows.php. Or contact Charles Anzalone in UB’s Office of Communications at 716-645-4600.