Shelly Gates, an online graduate student at Indiana Wesleyan University studying School Counseling, received $2,000 in scholarship funds after being named a 2016 Carolyn Cooney REACh Your Goals Scholarship recipient. The program is designed to assist the growing number of adult learners who are returning to college. Gates was one of five recipients to receive the award this year.
REACh (Resources for the Education of Adults in the Chicago Area) is a not-for-profit consortium of educational, financial and other corporate institutions from the Chicago Metropolitan area. Every year, REACh announces three to five $2,000 scholarships for the following academic year.
“We are proud of Shelly Gates, as the recipient of the Carolyn Cooney Reach Your Goals Scholarship,” said Dr. Judith Justice, associate professor and director of Graduate School Counseling. “Professional School Counselors (PSC) assist youth and schools in reaching their goals, and it is fitting for Ms. Gates to receive this scholarship to help her to help others. Shelly shows care and concern for others and we look forward to her success as a PSC!"
Gates plans to graduate with her degree in Spring 2017. She currently serves as a substitute teacher in the Chicago area, but after completing her degree she hopes to become a school counselor at the middle school level.
“Finding out that I was awarded this scholarship was very validating,” said Gates. “It was wonderful to have all of my hard work recognized! It has inspired me to keep doing my best, because even when I am all alone at my laptop [taking online classes], I am still reaching for my goals.”