Jennifer Woodrum, a second year, graduate student in the clinical-counseling psychology program, is a 2019 recipient of the Ada Belle Clark Welsh Scholarship.
Woodrum graduated summa cum laude from Illinois State in 2015 and was also an Honors Program Scholar, Robert G. Bone Scholar, Illinois Lincoln Laureate (2014), and Illinois Education Association Student of the Year (2014). She majored in mathematics teacher education with a Spanish minor. After graduation, Woodrum started as an algebra and geometry teacher at Bloomington High School.
After working in the school system and experiencing the emotional crises of her students, Woodrum began to research the clinical-counseling psychology program at Illinois State.
“I was longing for a profession where I could work hands-on with individuals who were facing mental illness and difficult life experiences,” Woodrum said. “Working at PATH Crisis Center in homeless services over the past few years gave me an opportunity to provide direct services and case management to individuals often living with mental illness, substance abuse issues, and traumatic situations.”
This school year, Woodrum plans to complete her master’s thesis on perfectionism and how it affects distress. Woodrum is currently completing an internship at the Center for Youth and Family Solutions in the family counseling division. After graduating in spring 2020, she then plans to become licensed as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) by working at a community mental health agency.
Ada Bell Clark Welsh earned a two-year diploma from Illinois State in 1902. She had a distinguished teaching career in several states including Illinois, Arizona, and California. Welsh died in 1975. She provided in her will to establish a scholarship to assist women who have prior involvement in community or civic activities and who plan to have a career in liberal arts, humanities, teaching, or improvement of teaching. Criteria include a record of academic excellence, evidence of career goals in one of the designated areas, and financial need.
In addition to this scholarship, Woodrum was also the recipient of the Bloomington-Normal Soroptimist International’s Virginia Wagner Award.
