Commencement 2008 Student Profile of Talent Development Alumna Shana Leffingwell.
From being a part of the University of Rhode Island cheerleading team her freshman year, the Talent Development program and a sister of Alpha Phi, Shana Leffingwell has benefited from her many campus activities.
But before Leffingwell ever arrived on campus she was enrolled in Talent Development, which helped open doors for her as she made the transition to higher education. Talent Development was begun in 1968 specifically to help young people who otherwise could not attend the University of Rhode Island. The success of Talent Development lies in its students who have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, educators, business people, and engineers.
“Talent Development has played a major role with my success here at URI,” Leffingwell said. “TD was always there for me when I needed help with academic stress and even to talk about every day problems or successes.”
Leffingwell said that because the program also provided major financial aide she worked hard in her classes to show the staff at TD that she was truly benefiting from the program.
“Being a part of the TD program has been such a wonderful experience for me, and I greatly appreciate everything they have done and given me,” she said.