ALL ABOUT BUDS
"We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends." -Mary Mcleod Bethune
THE mISSION & vISION
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Mission Statement: The mission of BUDS is to motivate students of color to pursue higher education and provide educational support and guidance to students in navigating the college experience.
Vision Statement: BUDS seeks to become a holistic, perpetual network of support for high school students through the programming and mentorship of its participants. |
meet THE TEAM
TRENTON DUNN
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Trenton has been blessed to serve as an educator and advisor to both high school students and college students. Through the creation of BUDS, Trenton wants to help ease the transition from between these two worlds and give students a “leg up” in pursuing their educational aspirations. Trenton is originally from Kentucky, and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in English. Additionally, he earned a Master’s of Education Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.
Today, Dunn lives and works in Chicago, Illinois. There he serves Chicago’s best and brightest students as an Education Manager at the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund. Before his current appointment, Dunn worked in residential life at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has a wealth of experience supporting students’ academic needs, and hopes his skill set will be an asset to help students of color in obtaining access and equity.
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ABBigail DUNN
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Abbigail is humbly honored to serve as a Success Coach for the BUDS Foundation. She has dedicated her life to education and the rising achievement of future generations. A native of Harrodsburg, Abbigail credits her hometown as where her passion for working with youth began. Throughout high school, Abbigail worked for YMCA Child Care and Summer Programs. She went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Child Development and taught preschool for Head Start.
Abbigail graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Kentucky State University. During her time there, she worked as a Student Manager for the Office of Student Life. It was that experience that truly taught her need for students to be exposed and educated regarding higher education options while in high school. Abbigail currently works for Franklin County Schools with middle school and high school students, and is simultaneously pursing a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Georgetown College. Abbigail is very excited to volunteer for this project, and truly believes in this initiative. “I understand the concept that “Knowledge is Power” and I am eager to help expose students to greater opportunities in higher education”.
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Lacinda Jones
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LaCinda Jones, LMSW is a licensed Social Worker currently working as a medical social worker at the Veteran’s Hospital in Tucson, AZ. She is a strong advocate of enrichment programming, and believes BUDS has the potential to change the trajectory of young lives. As a native of Kentucky, LaCinda earned her B.S. in Public Health Education from Western Kentucky University. After working on a research project with family and children at the University of Louisville, she decided to pursue her Master’s of Social Work degree at Northern Kentucky University. LaCinda has always had a passion for helping and teaching others.
LaCinda also studied crime and punishment abroad in London while she was in graduate school, and she created the Graduate Student Association at NKU. LaCinda has won several awards: Graduate Student Excellence Award, Outstanding MSW Student, Judith Holmes Field Placement Award, Allied Health Research Award, Washington Center Fellow, AmeriCorps Alumni, and NKU CAT Fellow. She’s also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INC. Along with her social work endeavors, LaCinda is also entering the entrepreneurial realm with her own social work licensing preparation company, CrossBeam Consulting.
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