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9.05.08 | Horatio Alger Scholars’ Summer Stories
Jennifer Vaile
2004 Horatio Alger Montana scholar, Jennifer Vaile, spent the summer working within the field she hopes someday will become her career. Vaile is working toward a degree in social work with a minor in psychology at The University of Montana in Missoula. She spent the summer balancing her time between two very different jobs, both equally challenging and inspiring.
At the Teen Recovery Center, Vaile worked in patient rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction. "I helped during group sessions and mediation and also observed and cared for patients going through withdrawal," said Vaile. In her second job, Vaile worked one-on-one with a young girl with ADHD and autism at the Child Development Center. "Both jobs taught me a great deal of patience that I didn’t know was possible. I learned that you have to be a very patient person to work in those positions," said Vaile.
Slated to graduate in 2010, Vaile looks forward to a career in family counseling and working with battered women and children. To obtain her goals the Horatio Alger Scholarship has made all the difference. "It has meant a lot to me. The scholarship is making it possible for me to get my degree and go on to help other people," said Vaile.
Stephanie Gruss
Stephanie Gruss received the Horatio Alger Montana Scholarship in 2004 to help support her pursuit of higher education. Gruss is a communications and management major at Montana Tech in Butte. She had the incredible opportunity of interning at Boeing in Seattle, but that wasn’t the biggest accomplishment of her summer.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Puget Sound sponsored a rather unusual fundraising event in tandem with the King County International Airport’s 80th Anniversary Celebration. The BIG Plane Pull brought teams together to pull a 767 jet aircraft 25 feet using combined physical strength and teamwork. Gruss tells of an unplanned collaboration, which proved to be a winning partnership.
"Our team was small so we joined with another smaller team at the last minute. We ended up pulling the fastest and winning the trophy," said Gruss. This wasn’t Gruss’ first involvement with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. She had been a volunteer with the organization in Butte. "Continuing to work with Big Brothers, Big Sisters felt good. It made me feel closer to home," said Gruss.
Victory wasn’t without an important lesson learned, as Gruss describes, "Alone we weren’t going to be able to do it and the others wouldn’t have been able to do it alone either. It was a good experience of teamwork and learning to ask for help when you need it."
Gruss plans to go on to a career in corporate philanthropy. The Horatio Alger Scholarship is helping her work toward that goal. "Of all my scholarships, it was right at the top in terms of support. The Foundation actually cares about what I’m doing," said Gruss. "The Washingtons take time to meet with us students. I’ve gotten to meet them more than once. They’re really down to earth. They offer advice. They know who I am."
Dan Boyce
University of Montana broadcast journalism major and 2004 Horatio Alger Montana scholar, Dan Boyce, was lucky enough to spend his summer on the green isle interning with a Dublin-based documentary film company, called Loopline Film. Actually luck was only partially in play in this incredible experience. "Part of it was being in the right place at the right time," said Boyce. "I wanted to do an internship abroad, so I went to my adviser in the journalism school. She suggested I talked to Gita Saedi, a professor of documentary production at the U who had lived abroad. She had contacts and I ended up interning under her old roommate."
Interning at Loopline Film, which specializes in Irish historical and cultural documentaries, proved to be a perfect compliment to the living abroad experience. "A day might entail me reading a book on a historical Irish figure. It really opened up Dublin as I explored the city to find out where historical events happened," said Boyce. In addition to research, Boyce helped with pre- and post-production, late-stage editing and worked on a film festival calendar and a funding deadline calendar. "My Indiana Jones moment was when I got to go behind locked doors in the National Museum of Ireland to photograph historical items that few people get to see," said Boyce.
The two-month long internship gave Boyce an in-depth look at long-form journalism. Previously Boyce had been the evening news anchor on KUFM, Missoula’s public radio station. "I was struggling between news and documentary," said Boyce. " I wanted to see how I felt about documentary as a potential career and I was surprised how comfortable I felt."
Boyce has one semester left at The University of Montana and is working at Missoula-based documentary film company, Barrett Productions. His plans for the future are up in the air, but his options are wide open.
While a separate scholarship and gift from the president of the university covered the trip and enabled Boyce to accept the internship, the Horatio Alger scholarship provided the financial support to help cover his regular schooling. Recently The University of Montana matched the amount the Washington Foundation gives to Horatio Alger scholars. "Halfway through my education, they doubled the scholarship. It was remarkable," said Boyce. "Last year, the Washington Foundation recognized the scholars and gave us all iPods. I definitely had it with me on my trip and in many ways it kept me tied to home."
Jeci Peterson
Jeci Peterson spent her summer right here at the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation as an intern. This 2006 Horatio Alger Montana scholar served as the emcee for the Foundation’s spring reception honoring four years of awarding scholarships. Peterson made an impression and became the Foundation’s first intern.
A sociology and communications major at The University of Montana, Peterson had an interest in social work. It wasn’t until her experience with the Foundation that she found her specific calling. "I am pursuing an American Humanics Certificate and taking on non-profit administration as my minor," said Peterson. "I would like to go on and do a program that combines law school with a masters degree in philanthropy or non-profit. I’ve also been interested in the Peace Corps and would like to work with an international non-profit. I didn’t really know about this field until now. I’m learning about all of these opportunities."
Peterson just recently committed to volunteer 300 hours during the school year to receive $1,000 towards her schooling through AmeriCorps. She is volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House and Big Brothers and Big Sisters. "I’m trying to diversify and get as much experience as I can both in and out of the job."
Throughout her internship, Peterson has worked with the Foundation’s website, helped with a new archival system and brainstormed ideas to further involve scholars with the Foundation. "One idea would be a practice in grant writing. Students could prepare a special proposal for study abroad scholarships," said Peterson. "I also thought it would be good to help find internships with the non-profits the Foundation works with." Although she’s not certain where these ideas will go, she is excited about the prospect and her role in it. Peterson also volunteered with employees of the Washington Companies in a Habitat for Humanity building event on August 22nd.
For Peterson, the Horatio Alger Scholarship began as a way to finance her education, but it has become so much more. "I am very impressed with how sincere and personable Dennis and Phyllis Washington are. They reach out to the scholars. They gave me this opportunity. It started as a scholarship and has turned into a life-changing event," said Peterson. "I’ve found my career."
Katie Shepard
Katie Shepard attends Montana Tech in Butte. To help in her pursuit of a degree in occupational safety and health with an applied health sciences option, Shepard applied for and received a Horatio Alger scholarship in 2007.
Just before school got out this year, Shepard was already getting her plans together for summer. Her main focus – organizing an event to raise money for a cause very close to her heart. Shepard’s boyfriend, Matt, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in 2003. Sarcoma is rare childhood cancer representing 15 to 20% of all forms of cancer in children and adolescents. Very little has changed in the treatment of Sarcoma over the last 20 years and awareness and funding for research have traditionally been low. Since Matt’s diagnosis, it has been his dream to boost awareness and help others with the disease. Teen Sarcoma is an international organization that is open to new fundraising ideas.
"Matt’s sister and I worked to make our event happen. He loves to fish so we thought a fishing tournament would be perfect," said Shepard.
The first annual Fishin’ for the Cure took place on Hauser Lake in Helena on July 12 as part of International Sarcoma Awareness Week. Along with Matt’s family, Shepard researched other fishing tournaments and worked with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to secure the lake for the day. "We got accepted to use Hauser Lake during finals week," said Shepard.
The night before the event a dinner was held. "We sold raffle tickets and handed out sarcoma fact sheets," said Shepard. Wildlife Unlimited helped tremendously with fundraising. The day of the tournament, everything went off without a hitch and the event raised $4,400.
"We definitely want to make this an annual event," said Shepard. "In fact, as soon as we had our web site up, a Sarcoma group in Minnesota wanted to do holding a fishing tournament too, so we’re helping them plan it."
In addition to Shepard’s dedication to Sarcoma research and awareness, she is also working hard towards her degree and the future. "The Horatio Alger Scholarship has given me the financial support for me to reach my goals. I want to become a physical therapist," said Shepard. "Without the scholarship I would have to go to school off and on."
For Shepard, the fishing tournament this summer took a lot of hard work. "But the cause made it all worth the time and energy," she said. Her current efforts and her future plans center around making people’s lives better. "I like to see people recover. It’s really rewarding see people progress through the healing process."
Daniel Zolnikov
University of Montana business management and information systems major, Dan Zolnikov spent his summer decidedly not wearing a tie or carrying a briefcase. He chose a ball cap and work boots instead. Zolnikov’s summer on his uncle’s farm-turned-vineyard near Mount Angel, Oregon proved to be just the sort of work experience he was looking for.
"I took Dennis Washington's advice literally," said the 2005 Horatio Alger Montana scholar. "Work hard now and all will pay itself off." A three-week span of his summer was spent swathing over 700 acres with grass seed, a grueling job with 12-hour shifts starting a 1:00 am. "Seeds dry out during the day. So we work at night to help yield more grass," said Zolnikov.
Zolnikov’s college years have been marked with diverse experiences. He was able to study abroad in Holland and was recently elected to Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM). Political science is his minor. Zolnikov’s varying interests have made post-college plans an uncertainty, but he has a year and a half left to figure out his next step. "I’m thinking about getting my MBA, but I’m just don’t know yet. I’m focusing on my options."
The Horatio Alger Scholarship has provided Zolnikov with just that – options. "I'm one of those kids paying for my own college, and entering my fourth year debt free," said Zolnikov. "The scholarship has helped so much by taking off some of that pressure."
Reveling in Ireland's rich history, Dan Boyce takes in the grounds of Dublin Castle.
