Written by: Jamie Roth, Community Services & Public Relations Director
Six western Illinois college students were recently awarded scholarships by WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC) through the Community Services program. Brandy Bias, Carmyn Huston, Jerick LeMaire, Joy Hadley, Kara West, and Selina Mannion were each awarded $1,000 to be used for tuition, books, and/or fees. Three of the students are from McDonough County, and the remaining three students are from Hancock, Knox, and Warren counties, respectively. All of the students voiced their desire to help others in the community through their careers.
In order to be considered for the WIRC Scholarship, applicants had to submit an essay and letters of reference. Applications were reviewed by a scholarship committee through a blind review process. The top scoring candidates were selected for the scholarship.
Brandy Bias of McDonough County is studying at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. She aims to finish her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and then earn a Masters in Family Practice Nurse Practitioner degree. Bias hopes that she will be an inspiration to her children, and has plans to remain in the area. “My personal goal is to show my kids that you can continue with your education at any point in your life,” said Bias. “I think that with the lack of providers in the community, having a local nurse practitioner with ties to and investment in the community is important.”
Joy Hadley of McDonough County dreams of helping others in her career, and is studying social work at Spoon River College. In particular, Hadley wants to focus on providing mental health services to people recovering from drug addictions. “With the proper training, I could help individuals and their families by providing support, counseling and guidance to different pathways of recovery,” said Hadley. “I could directly support my town by offering help to the schools, city office, police department, churches and medical offices.”
Carmyn Huston of Warren County is enrolled at Illinois State University studying Elementary Education. She enjoys spending time with children and wants a career involved in education. “I have always had a deep love for kids,” said Huston. “I would love to help them learn.”
Jerick LeMaire of Hancock County is studying the mechanical trade of Diesel and Power Systems Technology at Spoon River College. After earning his degree, he hopes to open a repair shop, operate a farm and repair farming equipment, or provide heavy machinery repair services in the area. “I plan to put forth these rare and forgotten services back into the community,” said LeMaire.
Selina Mannion of McDonough County is working on her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Western Illinois University. She is only one class away from completing her degree and says this scholarship will help her reach that goal. “My MBA concentration is in Accounting,” said Mannion. “My career would focus on [helping] people at the poverty line.”
Kara West of Knox County is studying to become a Registered Nurse through Carl Sandburg College. She was inspired to go back to college after experiencing the wonderful care she received from medical staff during a recent surgery. “I am returning to school after graduating 25 years ago,” said West. “I am excited at the prospect of helping those in my area, delivering the best healthcare they can receive and deserve. I hope to specialize in wound care or possibly continue my education to get my medical surgical certification.”
Funding for the WIRC Scholarship is provided by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC) is a nonprofit that helps people and communities in multiple western Illinois counties. It is a proud member of over 1,000 Community Action Agencies across the United States fighting the war on poverty. For more information, find them on social media, visit their website at https://wirpc.org/, call their Macomb office at 309-837-2997, or call their Galesburg office at 309-837-5115. WIRC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.