This document discusses the author's experiences growing up in poverty in Gary, Indiana and how that has shaped their research interests in improving public health for marginalized communities. The author details struggling to attend college while working multiple jobs, relying on local charities at times, and taking an eight year break from school. They were later motivated to complete their degree after learning a job required a Bachelor's, and have since conducted undergraduate research on health disparities through the McNair Scholars program with the goal of advancing to graduate school.
The student is pursuing an associate's degree in science to transfer to a four-year program to earn a bachelor's degree in a biological or health science field to achieve her goal of becoming a doctor. She wants to provide affordable healthcare to marginalized communities and establish free clinics and a non-profit organization to offer medical services and education globally. Attending college has been challenging as a low-income immigrant student but she has overcome obstacles by working multiple jobs while maintaining good grades and participating in community organizations. She believes she deserves the scholarship due to her academic achievements, leadership roles, and commitment to helping underserved communities through education.
The document summarizes Linda Jo Stern's work experience overseas and her presentation about an international health project in Honduras called PROMESA. Some key points:
1) Stern has lived and worked in several countries, including Mozambique, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, Kenya, Bolivia, Tanzania, Nepal, India, and Honduras.
2) PROMESA is a partnership project between Brigham and Women's Hospital and Honduran organizations aimed at improving community health.
3) The project focuses on needs assessments, service learning, community health projects, training, and research related to issues like cervical cancer prevention, midwife education, and water
Beth Belcher is the director of the Student Support Services TRiO Program at Carteret Community College. She double majored in Clinical Psychology and History of Religions at UNC-Chapel Hill and received her Master's degree in Educational Psychology from North Carolina A&T. Beth has a passion for first generation students and sees the benefits of education in changing lives. She believes education enlarges your world while also showing how similar people are across cultures.
The Surfers for Autism organization holds events to teach surfing to people with autism and other disabilities. Their goal is to promote inclusion and awareness. The author volunteered at two SFA events, assisting over 400 participants. They observed a wide range of abilities and helped participants learn to surf. The experience reinforced the author's interest in working with people with disabilities.
Beth Feldkamp dropped out of high school as a teenager but later realized she was a hypocrite for telling her daughters education was important without having earned a degree herself. She enrolled in Washtenaw Community College's GED Plus program where she received support from scholarships through the WCC Foundation. This allowed her to graduate with her GED and later earn bachelor's and master's degrees. Beth now serves as a role model for her daughters, all of whom plan to attend college, showing how education can overcome barriers through perseverance and support from organizations like the WCC Foundation.
The document discusses ways to promote gender equality and eradicate gender stereotypes. It suggests that everyone shares responsibility for household chores, and that what women and men are capable of has nothing to do with gender. It also recommends complimenting women's intelligence and wisdom rather than just their looks, and avoiding gender stereotypes. Social media is identified as a tool that can spread messages of gender equality and female empowerment to millions of people.
The Jed Foundation was created after the son of the founders committed suicide in college. They are now a leading nonprofit focused on mental health and suicide prevention among college students. They work to increase awareness of emotional disorders, make help more accessible, and advocate for stronger campus health services. Their goal is to reduce distress and prevent suicide nationally. They achieve this through various programs that educate students, parents, and campus staff.
The document discusses how scholarships from the Trinidad State Educational Foundation are making a significant positive impact on students at the Valley Campus. It profiles three students—Bobbi Maul, Jesse DeHerrera, and Jason Delman—who are currently receiving scholarships that are helping them stay in school and pursue their educational goals, despite facing financial or personal challenges. The Foundation awarded over $200,000 in scholarships last year and is on track to award over $250,000 this year, demonstrating the growing support it receives from donors in the community.
The student is pursuing an associate's degree in science to transfer to a four-year program to earn a bachelor's degree in a biological or health science field to achieve her goal of becoming a doctor. She wants to provide affordable healthcare to marginalized communities and establish free clinics and a non-profit organization to offer medical services and education globally. Attending college has been challenging as a low-income immigrant student but she has overcome obstacles by working multiple jobs while maintaining good grades and participating in community organizations. She believes she deserves the scholarship due to her academic achievements, leadership roles, and commitment to helping underserved communities through education.
The document summarizes Linda Jo Stern's work experience overseas and her presentation about an international health project in Honduras called PROMESA. Some key points:
1) Stern has lived and worked in several countries, including Mozambique, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, Kenya, Bolivia, Tanzania, Nepal, India, and Honduras.
2) PROMESA is a partnership project between Brigham and Women's Hospital and Honduran organizations aimed at improving community health.
3) The project focuses on needs assessments, service learning, community health projects, training, and research related to issues like cervical cancer prevention, midwife education, and water
Beth Belcher is the director of the Student Support Services TRiO Program at Carteret Community College. She double majored in Clinical Psychology and History of Religions at UNC-Chapel Hill and received her Master's degree in Educational Psychology from North Carolina A&T. Beth has a passion for first generation students and sees the benefits of education in changing lives. She believes education enlarges your world while also showing how similar people are across cultures.
The Surfers for Autism organization holds events to teach surfing to people with autism and other disabilities. Their goal is to promote inclusion and awareness. The author volunteered at two SFA events, assisting over 400 participants. They observed a wide range of abilities and helped participants learn to surf. The experience reinforced the author's interest in working with people with disabilities.
Beth Feldkamp dropped out of high school as a teenager but later realized she was a hypocrite for telling her daughters education was important without having earned a degree herself. She enrolled in Washtenaw Community College's GED Plus program where she received support from scholarships through the WCC Foundation. This allowed her to graduate with her GED and later earn bachelor's and master's degrees. Beth now serves as a role model for her daughters, all of whom plan to attend college, showing how education can overcome barriers through perseverance and support from organizations like the WCC Foundation.
The document discusses ways to promote gender equality and eradicate gender stereotypes. It suggests that everyone shares responsibility for household chores, and that what women and men are capable of has nothing to do with gender. It also recommends complimenting women's intelligence and wisdom rather than just their looks, and avoiding gender stereotypes. Social media is identified as a tool that can spread messages of gender equality and female empowerment to millions of people.
The Jed Foundation was created after the son of the founders committed suicide in college. They are now a leading nonprofit focused on mental health and suicide prevention among college students. They work to increase awareness of emotional disorders, make help more accessible, and advocate for stronger campus health services. Their goal is to reduce distress and prevent suicide nationally. They achieve this through various programs that educate students, parents, and campus staff.
The document discusses how scholarships from the Trinidad State Educational Foundation are making a significant positive impact on students at the Valley Campus. It profiles three students—Bobbi Maul, Jesse DeHerrera, and Jason Delman—who are currently receiving scholarships that are helping them stay in school and pursue their educational goals, despite facing financial or personal challenges. The Foundation awarded over $200,000 in scholarships last year and is on track to award over $250,000 this year, demonstrating the growing support it receives from donors in the community.
This document summarizes an issue of a publication called "GIVING" that is published by the Indiana University Foundation. It highlights donors to Indiana University Bloomington's "Matching the Promise" fundraising campaign. The first article profiles Anne Koehler, a pioneering female mathematician who received her BA, MA and PhD from IU Bloomington. It describes her career and her family's philanthropic support of IU, including a gift to establish a scholarship. The second article interviews Neil Theobald, Vice Chancellor for Budgetary Administration and Planning at IU Bloomington, about the role of philanthropy in advancing IU's mission and the impact of the Matching the Promise campaign.
The document summarizes past scholarship winners from 2017-2014 who wrote essays about mesothelioma. It provides brief biographies of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place winners each year, describing their backgrounds, careers/educational paths, and messages they want to share with families impacted by mesothelioma.
1) The applicant became interested in social work after becoming a parent and realizing she wanted to make a difference by immersing herself in helping others, rather than looking in from the outside.
2) She served as a Jesuit Volunteer providing legal assistance to immigrants, which exposed her to social injustices and made her want to do more with further training.
3) She believes in empowering vulnerable populations by recognizing who lacks a voice in society and advocating for them. The MSW distance program is a good fit for continuing her education while caring for her family.
The author chose Walden University's MSN program because its mission and vision aligned perfectly with her goals. Walden aims to create a 21st century learning community and promote social change through education. Its focus on flexibility allowed the author to balance family responsibilities while achieving her educational goals. Two key program outcomes stood out for the author: evaluating patient needs and promoting health, and committing to professional development and nursing ethics. The author believes Walden's program will provide the training needed to accomplish her goal of becoming an FNP and creating positive change in healthcare administration and management.
The document discusses the importance of family support services from the perspective of lived experience. It describes how the Tamarack Institute utilizes "context experts" with lived experience of social issues in their community engagement work. It then shares the author's own lived experience of growing up in a young family and benefiting from brief family counseling, supportive jobs and schooling, which helped her thrive despite challenges. The author advocates for preserving and strengthening family support services, prevention programs, and behavioral healthcare for children.
Ayla Wilk held various roles mentoring and educating others over her college career through different campus organizations. As a freshman, she explored chemistry outreach programs but struggled to find funding and participation. In sophomore year, she worked with SIFE and Project Esperanza to tutor disadvantaged elementary students, but the program was shut down. In junior year, she partnered with the Women's Center to provide outdoor experiences and alternative spring breaks to promote healing. For her senior year project, she and a co-leader organized a service trip in response to the Gulf oil spill through the YMCA.
This document summarizes an issue of a publication called "GIVING" that is published by the Indiana University Foundation. It highlights donors to Indiana University Bloomington's "Matching the Promise" fundraising campaign. The first article profiles Anne Koehler, a pioneering female mathematician who received her BA, MA and PhD from IU Bloomington. It describes her career and her family's philanthropic support of IU, including a gift to establish a scholarship. The second article interviews Neil Theobald, Vice Chancellor for Budgetary Administration and Planning at IU Bloomington, about the role of philanthropy in advancing IU's mission and the impact of the Matching the Promise campaign.
The document summarizes past scholarship winners from 2017-2014 who wrote essays about mesothelioma. It provides brief biographies of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place winners each year, describing their backgrounds, careers/educational paths, and messages they want to share with families impacted by mesothelioma.
1) The applicant became interested in social work after becoming a parent and realizing she wanted to make a difference by immersing herself in helping others, rather than looking in from the outside.
2) She served as a Jesuit Volunteer providing legal assistance to immigrants, which exposed her to social injustices and made her want to do more with further training.
3) She believes in empowering vulnerable populations by recognizing who lacks a voice in society and advocating for them. The MSW distance program is a good fit for continuing her education while caring for her family.
The author chose Walden University's MSN program because its mission and vision aligned perfectly with her goals. Walden aims to create a 21st century learning community and promote social change through education. Its focus on flexibility allowed the author to balance family responsibilities while achieving her educational goals. Two key program outcomes stood out for the author: evaluating patient needs and promoting health, and committing to professional development and nursing ethics. The author believes Walden's program will provide the training needed to accomplish her goal of becoming an FNP and creating positive change in healthcare administration and management.
The document discusses the importance of family support services from the perspective of lived experience. It describes how the Tamarack Institute utilizes "context experts" with lived experience of social issues in their community engagement work. It then shares the author's own lived experience of growing up in a young family and benefiting from brief family counseling, supportive jobs and schooling, which helped her thrive despite challenges. The author advocates for preserving and strengthening family support services, prevention programs, and behavioral healthcare for children.
Ayla Wilk held various roles mentoring and educating others over her college career through different campus organizations. As a freshman, she explored chemistry outreach programs but struggled to find funding and participation. In sophomore year, she worked with SIFE and Project Esperanza to tutor disadvantaged elementary students, but the program was shut down. In junior year, she partnered with the Women's Center to provide outdoor experiences and alternative spring breaks to promote healing. For her senior year project, she and a co-leader organized a service trip in response to the Gulf oil spill through the YMCA.
Similar to Abridged Diversity Statement for ASL (6)
1. My Story in the Context of Improving Public Health
Research suggests that Americans who live at or below the poverty line may not
prioritize their personal health, and may perceive advanced healthcare differently than their
economic counterparts. As a diabetic, I have found that health care services vary based on
accessibility and community of origin. For instance, when the burden of disease has exceeded
beyond the ambits of public health, the patient has to seek tertiary services outside their
community. Hence, public health is at the forefront of health services to any marginalized
community. I want to deepen my understanding of their priorities in terms of child development
and economics, and how these values moreover shape their standard of living. I also want to
advocate for preventive healthcare for the poor, including the homeless and indigenous families.
Based on my experiences living below the poverty line, being involved in civic engagement, and
working for the Community Kitchen of Monroe County, Inc., my undergraduate research has
been highly focused on improving the quality of life for marginalized communities.
I am a native son of Gary, Indiana, attending Indiana University because my late father
said so. I was enamored by the television show A Different World, as it exposed me to first
generation minority students who attended a Historically Black College. Thinking I could also be
successful, as a rising junior in high school I enrolled in Principles of Sociology at Indiana
University Northwest. Then, I consulted my high school guidance counselor about Indiana
University’s Groups Program, a program that offers first generation students jump start classes
prior to the fall semester of the academic year. Attending Indiana University as a first generation
student was far different from A Different World, but I did my best to make it work. When
working full-time and attending school full-time resulted in academic failure, I conceded and
withdrew from school, thinking I would eventually return to school.
2. During that eight year time gap, I worked three to four jobs to keep a roof over my head,
prevent eviction, keep the bills current, and perhaps have food in the house. I would work
mornings at McDonald's, afternoons at the Community Kitchen, and serve as a nanny most
nights in the town of Martinsville. Yet, I happily worked. Plus, I became a Mary Kay consultant
as a way of gaining income. I worked from one job to another. I preferred working at the
Community Kitchen, but full time employment wasn’t available until 2009. I worked all jobs
daily from 2007 until 2009. Sometimes I depended on the Community Kitchen in terms of food,
socks, and a blanket for the winter, the Centers for United Ministries for heating assistance, and
the local township agency for rent assistance. I knew that school no longer was a priority; I was
focused on survival and it became the least of my concerns.
In 2011, through volunteering for the PRIDE Film Festival for grant writing, I learned
about the Community Kitchen of New York City. They were looking for someone with my skill
set for outreach services, but the requirement was a Bachelor's degree. Feeling guilty I could not
qualify, the thought came "What if I could return to school and finish a Bachelor’s degree in
General Studies and move forward?" That following summer, I returned to Indiana University.
This motivation led me to apply and participate in post-baccalaureate research with the
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, a program that provides training specifically to first
generation minority students who face similar challenges but want to progress to graduate school
in spite of them. Through the McNair Scholars program, my endeavor crystallized to facilitate
research on health disparities affecting marginalized communities