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ASIST Chair: Therese Lusby, Corporex Companies LLC
ADULT STUDENTS IN SCHOLASTIC TRANSITION (ASIST) SCHOLARSHIP
EWI® established the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) program to provide guidance, through financial support, to adults in a variety of transitional situations. The ASIST program offers assistance to adults in the area who are in need of financial aid to further their education.
The objective of the program is to enable each recipient to achieve self-esteem, positively impacting his or her personal life, employment, family, and community. Candidates must have utilized personal assessment and/or re-entry programs available through colleges, community agencies, and service groups or career professionals. Each candidate must be able to define career goals as well as educational requirements.
After the applications are received from the area's schools, the ASIST Committee review them and rate the individuals on a point system, based on their applications. Criteria includes: financial need; socially, physically or economically disadvantaged adults; heads of households with small children; displaced homemakers, and at-risk adults. Candidates are interviewed by the Committee and the nominees are narrowed down. The final candidates are then interviewed by an executive panel that makes the final selections.
In October of 2006, Bob Kohlhepp, Executive for member firm, Cintas, announced the establishment of the Janet K. Wendel ASIST Scholarship with a generous annual pledge of $5000 for the next five years.
Mr. Kohlhepp established this scholarship due in part to his admiration of the EWI ASIST Program and the testimonies he has heard from recipients about the impact the scholarships have made on their lives. He has served as one of our Judges and has written a testimonial for our Chapter ASIST brochure. He suggested that the scholarship be named for Janet Wendel, Cintas' former representative and his Executive Assistant, who has worked tirelessly helping to raise funds as well as serving on the ASIST committee over the past several years.
2008 ASIST SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
NATIONAL CITY SCHOLARSHIP $3,000
Andrea Ridder
College of Mount St. Joseph
Andrea is studying Art Therapy at the College of Mount St. Joseph. She has an Associates Degree in Photography, and is pursing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art (all of which has taken
eight years to-date). She plans to continue with a Masters degree in Art Therapy. Andrea says, "Art is a wonderful tool to help people release their inner-most feelings. It can help to get out
feelings of hopelessness in hard situations and can also be a way of enlightening one's soul and provide a new outlook for the future."
According to her sponsor, "Andrea has and continues to grow and reach to achieve the best for herself and her daughter." Andrea is a single mother of an 11-year-old daughter.
EWI SCHOLARSHIP $3,000
Kelly Combs
Gateway Community & Technical College
As a single mother of four children, Kelly is studying for her Associate in Science degree in Education at Gateway Community & Technical College. After completion of her Associate degree, Kelly plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. "I feel this scholarship will not only accommodate the life of one person, but it will change the lives of five. By furthering my education, I will be the best role model for my own children and give them the security to know that an education is important."
All her life, Kelly has wanted to become a teacher. Kelly's personal goals include influencing friends her age to strive for more out of life.
CORPOREX / EWI JOINT SCHOLARSHIP $6000.00
Suzette Pollard
Gateway Community & Technical College
Suzette is pursuing an Associate in Science degree in Science at the Gateway Community & Technical College. She plans to transfer to Cincinnati State to become a Diet Technician.Suzette is a single mother of a one-year-old son with a very rare genetic disorder known as Phenylketonuria (or PKU) which severely limits his diet. This is the primary reason she is motivated to return to school to become a Diet Technician. Her passion is to help other families like her own. Ultimately, she would like to own a deli for special diets where families could eat and enjoy the family experience without worrying about what one or two family members can or cannot eat.
According to her sponsor, "I have no doubt that Suzette will accomplish her dreams, provide a better life for her son, and give back to the PKU community."
Another sponsor says, "Suzette's potential for success is unlimited. My rationale for feeling she will succeed is simple; I have seen her succeed before."
JANET K. WENDEL / EWI JOINT SCHOLARSHIP $7,000.00
Tami Deemer
University of Cincinnati
Tami is pursuing her Bachelor in Science in Social Work at University of Cincinnati, Raymond Walters College. She has recently been accepted in the School of Social Work at the main campus beginning this fall.
Tami's goal is to become a victim's advocate. Tami's mother and grandmother were victims of a wrongful death, and in years later, so was her half brother. "I am going into Social Work, because I think that my past experiences will benefit others. It is as if God has been preparing me for this journey long before the schooling has started … I can guarantee that I will pay it forward every time I am helping someone get past the trauma in their life."
According to a sponsor, "Tami has overcome more obstacles at her young age than anyone should have to in 10 life times. She has persevered and met each challenge."
Tami is a single mom of a 14-year-old son who is autistic.
2007 ASIST SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
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