Jane Roiter Memorial Scholarship in Counseling and Human Services
Spring 2012
Deadline: Monday, March 19, 2012
In memory of the life of Dr. Jane Roiter, the Jane Roiter Memorial Scholarship will provide tuition assistance on a competitive basis to degree seeking, full- or part-time students of the university’s M.S. Counseling and Human Services program.
Dr. Jane Roiter (1946-2007) was a widely respected clinical social worker who started her practice in Chicago in 1983, working with individuals, couples and groups coping with a broad range of issues. Her career was an example of all that a social worker should be. She was steadfastly and completely devoted to her clients. She not only followed all the ethical and practice ideals of her profession, but she saw each client as a gift whose development she was honored to nurture. She saved lives in the literal physical sense, and she made it possible for many people to have full, meaningful, and happy lives.
Dr. Roiter held several posts in professional societies, including that of President of the Illinois Society for Clinical Social Work. She excelled at forming liaisons in the professional community, and for many years, organized a series of “Sunday Morning Seminars” for fellow practitioners. Teaching was another way she embraced her profession, serving on the adjunct faculty at Kendall College and National-Louis University.
Applications for the scholarship are now being accepted. For the Spring 2012 term, the scholarship seeks to make up to two awards. Please note that if you are applying for Merit Scholarships for Spring 2012, and you are interested in applying for this scholarship as well, you will need to submit this application separately, along with a separate essay which highlights your work within the field, ideas and other extra-curricular activities that speaks to your dedication in counseling.
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must:
- Be pursuing one of the following degrees:
- M.S. Human Services/Community Counseling.
- M.S. Human Services/School Counseling (Type 73 Endorsement).
- Have completed at least half of all course requirements.
- Have completed the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA - www.fafsa.ed.gov).
- Be completing their practicum in the Fall of 2012.
- Be in good standing with Student Finance.
- Fulfill the scholarship’s application requirements: application form, resume, essay*, and letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation must be from a full-time faculty member in the Counseling and Human Services program.
- Be available to meet in-person with the scholarship’s review committee before Fall 2012 (exact time and location to be determined). No phone interviews will be allowed.
The following questions should be answered in your essay:
- Why did you choose Counseling and Human Services as a field of study and why do you want to pursue a career in this field?
- How have you demonstrated your ability and commitment to complete the Counseling and Human Services program?
- If any, what are some of the projects, theories, practices, etc. in which you have been involved since beginning the program?
- What type of work do you hope to pursue with your degree? Be as specific as possible.
- How are you financing this degree program and what other sources of financial assistance is available to you?
- How would you qualify your financial need for this scholarship? Please explain in detail.
- If you receive a scholarship, how will you "pay it forward"? How will you give back to the community?
*Note on essays: Typographical, grammatical and editorial quality of essays are weighed as a reflection, in part, of an applicant’s ability to communicate and teach language and communication skills. Applicants may seek assistance and review of their essays, at no charge, from the university’s Center for Academic Development. Feel free to contact the center’s director, Stephen Neer (stephen.neer@nl.edu), 312.261.3374; the center’s e-mailbox, cybercad@nl.edu; or visit the center’s website at, or www.nl.edu/cad.
Students who receive scholarships but do not continue enrollment in the Counseling and Human Services program and complete their degrees in a timely manner will be obligated to repay their awards to the university; and will be asked to sign a written agreement to this effect.
Previous applicants for this scholarship may re-apply; however first consideration will be given to first-time applicants.
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of academic leadership convened by the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office, for the sole purpose of reviewing and selecting applicants.
The scholarship seeks to provide support for students who have demonstrated their ability and commitment to complete professional programs in human services and counseling.
In addition to academic performance, factors to be considered in awarding scholarships include financial need, dedication to a career in human services and counseling, previous work experience in the field, and volunteer activity or leadership.
Scholarship assistance will never be provided in the form of direct payments of cash to students. Awards are instead made as credits to students’ accounts to cover the costs of attendance.
Application form, essay, resume, and letter from a full-time faculty member in the Counseling and Human Services program must be submitted via e-mail to stscholarships@nl.edu by Midnight Monday, March 19, 2012.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Donor Relations & Scholarship Manager at stscholarships@nl.edu.