by givebackdv | Apr 20, 2021 | Alumni
Melissa Lipowski has completed her studies at Lewis University in Illinois this past December – completing a double-major in both Healthcare Leadership and Organizational Leadership.
Although she was the recipient of a Give Something Back scholarship, Melissa had been working while in school to earn money for her various expenses and also to gain valuable job experience in her chosen field.
She currently works at an orthopaedic company as a clinical and administrative assistant for a spine surgeon. She hopes to use her degree and experience to work her way up from there and take on a leadership role within a healthcare facility.
Being selected as a Give Something Back scholar changed the way Melissa looked at her own potential and scholastic abilities.
“Receiving the Give Something Back scholarship has changed my life in many ways. I believe that I would not be as far along in my schoolwork, nor have as much motivation if I was not given this chance.”
After she was selected for the scholarship, Melissa resolved to put forth her absolute best effort to succeed in her schoolwork. She put her studies before many things, even when it was difficult. And as a result, she has completed both of her degrees and feels immense pride in herself.
“I hope that one day I am able to ‘give back’ by being a mentor for other students. I hope to be able to make an impact on others as this program has done for me.”
For now, Melissa’s advice to other students in the Give Something Back program is both simple and profound: “Make sure that you are fully taking every advantage that you can with this amazing opportunity. To keep up on your schoolwork and get ahead when you can.
Giving it your all now will pay off in the end. Being able to look back at when you first started, to upcoming graduation is one of the best feelings you can have.”
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Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Melissa. We look forward to seeing your hard work impact many young lives with dreams just like your own!
by givebackdv | Feb 25, 2021 | Making an Impact
There are scholarships. There are mentoring programs. Give Something Back is both. Since 2003, Give Back has grown from one county to seven states. Our staff from three regions recently discussed best practices, collaboration, and the encouragement of organic growth of mentoring programs at the 2021 National Mentoring Summit. The presentation detailed how to adapt regional mentoring and scale a scholarship model nationally.
At the beginning, our scholarship was only for students who attended Lockport High School, our founder’s alma mater. On average, roughly a dozen students were able to benefit from the scholarship in the early stages. In 2012, our College Partner Program model was developed, offering a significant upfront capital contribution of $1 Million in exchange for 150 seats that paid for tuition, fees, room and board for 4 years for Pell-eligible students. While this is a large donation, it does not actually pay for all the costs. Our partner colleges match our contribution and fill the tuition gaps. Why? Because we mentor our scholars throughout high school and prepare them to succeed in college. The model allowed us to create more college pathways, but it also allowed us to expand from one high school in one county to multiple states.
Our program and model have changed over the years. We found it crucial to adapt to meet the diverse needs of each of the regions we work in. For example, our mentoring program’s focus in the Midwest is to provide students with a mentor who has graduated or is in the process of completing college. Mentors are asked to communicate at least twice a month and commit to a relationship throughout high school with their mentees. In contrast, in the Mid-Atlantic, we form partnerships with CBOs and High Schools with vital mentoring programs and we recruit from these programs. Our high school and CBO partners host monthly mentor meeting both to support our scholars and allow them to form the bonds to support each other. Give Back staff develop a monthly mentor curriculum for these meetings and one staff member attends the mentoring sessions every few months.
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, we were devastated and placed in a position to adapt once more. We continued to offer events and our time in a virtual environment. Our first step was to provide virtual office hours for our students. This occurred twice a week and allowed our students to “drop-in” to talk with staff and each other. In the fall semester, we also scheduled one-on-one video meetings with high school students. Overall, communication has increased with our students. We added additional student resources online and adapted the application process for a virtual environment.
We aim to continue changing lives with our program. But, when we look to what is next for Give Something Back, we think of our students. Having helped more than 1500 families over the years, we know that we can do more. We want to continue to expand and potentially modify our program to increase our student population. We are looking to other states, finding like-minded partners, and learning as much as possible to assist, support and guide. We want to look at other avenues of success for our scholars, whether trade school, community college, or a 4-year degree.
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To view our entire presentation, check it out on YouTube.
by givebackdv | Feb 3, 2021 | Staff
Katie Latta started with Give Back in September 2018 and currently serves as the Assistant Program Director for the state of Kansas. In 2004, Katie graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Missouri State University and shortly thereafter began a career working in the insurance field where she was a claims adjuster, communications specialist, corporate trainer, and supervisor.
Katie transitioned to working in higher education in August 2012 when she started a job at Ottawa University. There, she worked in enrollment, recruitment, and academic advising. Katie earned her Masters Degree in Human Resources in 2016 from Ottawa University. During her time there, she developed a passion for guiding students through their degree programs and their overall college experience.
Give Back is a great fit for Katie because she is able to use all of her previous experiences in her current role. Katie loves getting to know the students, building relationships with mentors, and developing resources for both students and mentors. When Katie isn’t working, she loves to spend time with her two children. Katie also enjoys reading, being outdoors, and watching sports.
by givebackdv | Aug 17, 2020 | College Success, Scholars
Give Back is committed to supporting and informing students during these times of uncertainty. The COVID-19 Pandemic may make it impossible for colleges and schools to resume in-person learning in the fall. We want you to know that it is okay and normal to experience stress and anxiety. It would be best if you took care of yourself and your mental health. Here are some tips we learned from our successful mental health session, which recently took place at our Mid-Atlantic Summit.
Take breaks from the news and social media to clear your mind. Staying informed is vital. However, information overload can also cause anxiety, fear, and stress. Try to disconnect and relax whenever you can. Instead, talk with people that you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. In times of disconnect, it is essential to remember to stay connected with your loved ones and friends as much as possible. Send a text message, set up a group video call or create a fun mailing list, and reach out to stay connected.
Try to care for your body by eating a well-balanced meal. What you eat directly affects the function of your brain and your mood. Eat healthily and see how you feel after 2-3 weeks! You can also look after your body by exercising and practicing yoga. Yoga improves balance, strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity in youth. It can help foster creativity, flexibility, self-control, and discipline in academics, career, and interpersonal relationships during early to late teenage years.
Are you still feeling overwhelmed? Breathe and ground yourself. Grounding is a strategy that may distract you from what you are experiencing and focus on your mind, senses, and being kind to yourself. It anchors you and helps you calm down. Grounding creates space from distressing feelings and allows you to readdress the problem that is triggering any unpleasant emotions. If you still feel that you are on your own, giving back can help you feel reconnected to others and the world. Work on your mental health by making a difference. Time with animals boosts feelings of happiness. If you do not have a pet, volunteer at a shelter!
The ongoing pandemic has brought forth challenging times. You are not alone. We are together apart and with you.
These are free online resources to help students focus on their emotional wellbeing and cope with anxiety and stress:
National Suicide Prevention Line: Call the hotline at 1-800-283-TALK if you are experiencing emotional distress related to COVID-19.
Crisis Text Line: Text “Home” to 741741 when you are feeling sad, depressed, or going through any type of emotional crisis, a crisis worker will text you back immediately and continue to text you.
Calm: a free meditation app for beginners, but also includes programs for intermediate and advanced users. Its guided meditations range from 3 to 25 minutes.
DreamyKid: a free app offering meditation, guided visualization and affirmations for children and teens.
Headspace: a free app focusing on mindful awareness, relieving anxiety, and reducing stress.
by givebackdv | Aug 3, 2020 | Scholars
Applying to a job or an internship can be daunting, beginning with polishing a CV, cultivating your online presence, not to mention combing through job listings to see what fits your interests and skills.
Give Back is helping its scholars get launched on their career paths by connecting them to professionals who can help talk them through the process and look at their application materials. Before you sign up for an individualized consultation, be sure to check out the resources below on how to get your CV and cover letter in shape!
Cover Letters
A cover letter is a document sent to hiring managers to provide additional information on your motivations, experience, and skills. We suggest using one of the two main types of cover letters: letters of application for specific open positions or letters of inquiry to ask about vacancies within an organization or business. Regardless of the kind of cover letter you use, keep in mind that a good letter helps employers learn why you are qualified for the job you are applying for and why you would bring special passion to the role. As our partner, Mercy College, notes, a cover letter should also clarify any doubts they might have after reviewing your resume.
Writing a cover letter for each job or internship can be burdensome. But a well-written cover letter can make you stand out from other candidates. If you’re unsure where to start, learn the cover letter basics. Before you write your first drafts, review the best practices and the do’s and don’ts. For example, you should investigate the organization’s mission and goals and evaluate your skills relevant to the employer’s needs. If you’re looking for some guidance on formatting, make sure your letter has all the essential parts. Our partner Queens College suggests reviewing templates.
Resumes
A resume is the most essential job-hunting document to market you to a potential employer. It helps highlight your professional experiences, accomplishments, and skills relevant to the position. We suggest using one of the three main types of resumes: chronological, functional, or combination. A chronological resume is the most common and organizes information within each category beginning with your most recent job or accomplishment. Whereas a functional resume focuses on your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments rather than dates, a combination resume combines the chronological and functional resume types. Try to utilize the resume type that best suits you and your skills—it is essential to put your best foot forward so as to secure a follow-up interview.
If you are struggling to get your resume started, Mercy College suggests organizing your information using sections. Try to emphasize aspects of your background that are the most relevant to the position(s) you seek. Binghamton University recommends using bullet points! Each bullet point should answer one of more of the following: ‘Who? What? When? Why? How? How many? How often? Results?’. As with cover letters, before you write your first drafts, review the do’s and don’ts or examples to get ideas on how to organize the essential information about you.
Social Media
Social media is a ubiquitous part of everyday life—but it also matters as part of your professional profile. Before you send out your first job or internship application, look at your social media accounts. Are there any posts that portray you in a negative light? Are there posts you would be embarrassed for an employer to see? If it is embarrassing for you, it is likely also embarrassing to your employer and team. Remember that hiring managers and colleges may search for you on social media to determine your candidate eligibility. You also want to emphasize your professionalism in your personal branding. You can do this by creating great professional accounts on LinkedIn and Twitter, which connect you with others and show off your industry expertise. If you’re unsure about your LinkedIn profile, check out this checklist that provides insights on how your photo, headline, summary, and experience sections should look. Rather than seeing social media as recreation alone, use social media as a professional tool. A polished and thoughtful social media profile may catch a recruiting hiring manager’s attention.
Before networking with professionals in the field, evaluate potential jobs you are interested in and look at each position’s responsibilities. Launching your career may seem insurmountable at first, but with the right preparation, you’ll be prepared to take the first step!
Ready to schedule a one-on-one consultation with a professional? Get started.
