At the Lewis-Clark State College Scholarship Luncheon with members of the St. Gertrude’s Peace and Justice Committee — Oblate Alyse Cadez, Sister Carol Ann Wassmuth, Sister Kim Marie Jordan, and Dr. Eleanor Downey — with LCSC senior Carissa Bentley (center) a recent recipient of the Monastery of St. Gertrude Social Justice Scholarship for social work students committed to social justice.

Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) held a luncheon on Tuesday, April 11, to honor scholarship recipients and the donors who fund the scholarships. As donors of the St. Gertrude Social Justice Scholarship for social work students, members of the Monastery’s Peace and Justice Committee were invited to participate.

Sister Carol Ann Wassmuth spoke about the intent of the scholarship and the other programs the Monastery supports. “Supporting those who will go on to support social justice in our world is an important part of what we would like to do…..There are times when the best thing we can give one another is the assurance that somebody does care. We care and we believe in you.”

Carissa Bentley, LCSC social work senior, who received the 2016 Monastery of St. Gertrude Social Justice Scholarship spoke about the impact of the scholarship on her education and her life. She discussed the meaning of social justice and her social justice project. The scholarship allowed her to intern at an orphanage in Costa Rica. “I was able to work with children who had been through difficult experiences,” she said. “The experience helped me advance in my practice as a social worker.” She further expressed her sincere gratitude to the Monastery for the scholarship.

Sister Carol Ann WassmuthThe Monastery of St. Gertrude Social Justice Scholarship was created in 2012 at the suggestion of Sister Kim Marie Jordan, who graduated from the LCSC School of Social Work in 2013, completed her MSW at Boise State, and is now a social worker at St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

The Monastery of St. Gertrude Social Justice Scholarship was created in 2012 at the suggestion of Sister Kim Marie Jordan, who graduated from the LCSC School of Social Work in 2013, completed her MSW at Boise State, and is now a social worker at St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

Scholarship recipients must be social work majors and have a strong commitment to social justice. The scholarship requires recipients to engage in a social justice project the year they receive the scholarship and provide a report for the Social Justice Committee. The 2017-18 recipients are Samantha Helsley and Monique Stamper.

“We want to encourage students to approach social work from a broader perspective,” says Sister Carol Ann. “To not just provide help with immediate advocacy but to promote looking at the bigger picture of systems and structures that create injustice.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carissa Bentley talks about how receiving the Monastery of St. Gertrude Social Justice Scholarship last year has impacted her life.

 

Sister Carol Ann Wassmuth talks about why St. Gertrude’s supports the Social Justice Scholarship and other endeavors.