November 4, 2025

For more information, contact:
Laura Brelsford | hcnews@hawks.huntingdon.edu | (334) 833-4563

Scholars Program Expands Opportunities For Service Learning

Montgomery, AL – First arriving on campus in the fall of 2019, the Presidential Scholars are a cohort of high achieving Huntingdon men and women working together in immersive scholastic experiences to develop leadership and resume skills. In their assigned teams, the students are afforded hands-on skill building and connections to each other and the campus and community.

This fall, the program has expanded beyond the four main teams, Pre-Health, Peer Mentoring, Sports Medicine, and Sports Media and Marketing, to offer more customized options to students with interests or callings beyond those areas. The expanded program has allowed for exciting new opportunities on campus but also in the community. The Scholars are excelling in the traditional teams and the new experiences.

“Since inception, the Presidential Scholars have been leaders on campus, key contributors in the classroom, and a collection of students who have made a name for themselves in the community through their engagement in internships and service opportunities,” stated Huntingdon President Anthony Leigh.  “Now, Scholars can fulfill their service requirement in self-designed internships and learning experiences on and off campus enabling students to steer their experience into career fields of interest.”

Get to know a few of these outstanding Presidential Scholars and learn about their Scholars team opportunities:

Cayden Anderson is a junior Accounting major from Clanton, Alabama with hopes of getting his CPA and staying in the Montgomery area. Cayden is working on a community Scholars experience with MANE, the Mongomery Area Non-Traditional Equestrians. He works closely with the students to help them engage in classes where they ride the horses and learn how to maintain and respect the animals. Cayden’s off-campus program allows him to network with community leaders and broaden his resume with time management and leadership skills.

Ava Rose Dean is a Presidential Scholar and Exercise Science / Pre-Occupational Therapy major. The junior from Wetumpka, Alabama plans to pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy to become a specialized spine therapist. Ava Rose is on the Sports Medicine Scholars Team. The group starts each week with a “Medical Monday” to learn hands-on skills relevant both on and off the fields. The sessions can cover techniques including suturing, taping, and identifying injuries. The Scholars put those lessons into use by attending athletic practices to observe and support the athletic trainers as they care for athletes in real time. Ava Rose’s time on the team has given her a better understanding of athletic injuries and care in a professional clinical setting.

Megan Cochran is a senior Criminal Justice major from Wicksburg, Alabama with aspirations of being an attorney. Her fall Scholars assignment is through an internship at The Adoption Law Firm with founder and Huntingdon alumnus, Sam McLure ’08. Megan is getting invaluable experience in her field shadowing the legal team and preparing draft legal documents for cases.

Niyah Lucas is a senior Psychology major from Montgomery, Alabama. After graduation, she plans to begin a master’s program for clinical mental health counseling with the goal of becoming a licensed professional counselor in Alabama. Niyah’s Scholar experience is with the local nonprofit organization, That’s My Child. The group mentors local youth in the arts, education, and workforce development in hopes of ending hopelessness and generational poverty in the Montgomery community. Niyah is able to work directly with the staff to assist with programming, events, and fundraising. Her time mentoring the teens has only strengthened her calling for the future.

Easton Frank is a junior Biochemistry major from Elberta, Alabama. He grew up on a farm but quickly found his passion was not in farming, but in the sciences. After Huntingdon, Easton plans to pursue a career in industrial chemistry. This year in the Scholars program, Easton is working with Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Doba Jackson, on research for the HudsonAlpha CODE project which involves researching diseases and related proteins. The one-on-one engagement with the faculty and the individuality of the projects allows him to work at his own pace around his busy class schedule.

Maria Bodiford is a junior Elementary Education Collaborative Special Education major from Foley, Alabama. After Huntingdon, she plans to continue her education with a master’s in education administration. During the day, Maria is busy with her field hours working in classrooms. However, after school, she picks up her camera and pen to report for the Huntingdon News and PR office. Already a very involved student, Maria loves to attend campus events, concerts, lectures, and games as a roving reporter and photographer. Many of her photos and writings have appeared in the weekly HC News email.  

Ty Wunderl is a Business Administration major and English Studies minor from Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating in May of 2027, he plans to go into government affairs. Ty’s Scholars assignment is working directly under Huntingdon College President Anthony Leigh. Ty attends events with the President and participates in the some of the briefings and meetings pertaining to government affairs and public policy. 

For more information on the Presidential Scholars Program, interested future Hawks should begin by completing the free online admissions application at https://www.huntingdon.edu/admission-aid/.

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