BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University junior Paige Maynard was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the One Voice trip to Washington D.C., sponsored by the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Bloomington-Normal.
A double major in sociology and economics, Maynard will travel with a group of local community leaders in March to meet with Illinois congressional representatives. While there, she will lobby for programs that will benefit the economic development of McLean County.
Maynard, a native of Granite City, Ill., was initially approached by Action Research Center (ARC) Coordinator Deborah Halperin to apply for the scholarship. As a student who is interested in local issues, Maynard submitted her application and was one of three students interviewed by five community leaders. With experience in local projects such as working with the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market, and coursework focusing on public finance and social organization, Maynard demonstrated to the panel that she was a strong candidate and was granted the scholarship.