Melissa Farmer, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work.
She is completing her internship at the United Way of Chicago. During this time she intends to learn more about community services for seniors as well as to advocate for and evaluate programs. Her BSW internship was at Senior Services of Will County in Joliet. Upon completion of her BSW she continued on as a Case Manager at Senior Services. Since entering the MSW program she has worked closely with Dr. Chi-Fang Wu researching governmental assistance and the relationship between poverty and health. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies she has consistently devoted herself to understanding the issues confronted by the elderly. This has led her to develop skills in advocacy, program planning, and program evaluation. Melissa was adopted by an older couple as a child. Her commitment to serving the elderly population as a form of "giving back".
Some of her volunteer work was done thorough her undergraduate program, Lewis University where she completed her Bachelors of Arts in Social Work in 2013. This included experience on the "LUMINATE May Service" trip where she worked with the Omaha Tribe in Nebraska. This experience was similar to an alternative Spring Break experience, but more in depth for several weeks in May. She has done other faith based and secular volunteer work. At Lewis University she was both a Peer Counselor as well as a Peer Minister.
During her time in the MSW program she has worked diligently to go above and beyond the normal requirements. She has completed training in "Mental Health First Aid" (Mental Health Association) and as a "Comprehensive Care Coordinator" (Illinois Department of Aging). These skills will enhance the advocacy, leadership and research skills from her concentration area.
For further information, please contact The Foundation.<< Prev | Scholarships Main Page |
1st Gabe Miller Scholar | Trish Snell, M.S.W., University of Denver, 2006; Ph.D., Notre Dame University |
2nd Gabe Miller Scholar | Dawn Davis, Illinois State University |
3rd Gabe Miller Scholar | Lauren White, Illinois State University |
4th Gabe Miller Scholar | Cheryl Lockett, Illinois State University |
5th Gabe Miller Scholar | Shani L. Trapp, University of Illinois |
6th Gabe Miller Scholar | Christopher S. Perri, Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
7th Gabe Miller Scholar | Carlos F. Moran, University of Southern California (USC) |
8th Gabe Miller Scholar | Audrey L. Tousant, University of Southern California (USC) |
9th Gabe Miller Scholar | Thomas J. Malczyk, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UI) |
10th Gabe Miller Scholar | Rachael Dietkus-Miller, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UI) |
11th Gabe Miller Scholar | Stephanie D. Moss, University of Southern California (USC) |
12th Gabe Miller Scholar | Ananda Leinartas, Jane Addams College of Social Work of the University of Illinois, Chicago |
13th Gabe Miller Scholar | Zuleika Andrade, University of Southern California (USC) School of Social Work |
14th Gabe Miller Scholar | Kristopher Koester, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) School of Social Work |
15th Gabe Miller Scholar | Whitney Welsh, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) School of Social Work |
16th Gabe Miller Scholar | Jana Hernandez, Loyola University Chicago |
17th Gabe Miller Scholar | Lauren Higbee, University of Illinois Chicago / Jane Addams Colllege of Social Work |
18th Gabe Miller Scholar | Lauren Belding, University of Illinois, Chicago / Jane Addams College of Social Work |
19th Gabe Miller Scholar | Jennifer Copeland, Loyola University, Chicago |
20th Gabe Miller Scholar | Jenny Vu, University of Southern California |
21st Gabe Miller Scholar | Alison Lehner, Loyola University, Chicago |
22nd Gabe Miller Scholar | Annie Azriel, University of Illinois, Chicago / Jane Addams College of Social Work |
23rd Gabe Miller Scholar | Danielle Perry, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) School of Social Work |
24th Gabe Miller Scholar | Raji Shivshanker, University of Southern California |
25th Gabe Miller Scholar | Lynette De Dios, University of Illinois, Chicago / Jane Addams College of Social Work |
26th Gabe Miller Scholar | Nakisa Choupani, University of Southern California |
27th Gabe Miller Scholar | Sarah Mesick, Loyola University, Chicago |
28th Gabe Miller Scholar | Ashley N. Grabb, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign |
29th Gabe Miller Scholar | Ivan Gonzalez, University of Southern California |
30th Gabe Miller Scholar | Tiara Smith, University of Illinois, Chicago / Jane Addams College of Social Work |
31st Gabe Miller Scholar | Candyss Newman, Loyola University, Chicago |
32nd Gabe Miller Scholar | Melissa Farmer, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign |