The Henry W. Welch Scholarship in Aging honors one of the Colorado Gerontological Society founders, whose commitment and dedication to the field of aging and human services spanned more than forty years. Dr. Welch was a forerunner and pioneer in the field of aging. He served as the first treasurer of The Society, helped to write the articles of incorporation and the by-laws, and providing parliamentarian support. For most of his career, Dr. Welch served the Denver community and Colorado, at the Metropolitan Council for Community Services, which is now the planning division of Mile High United Way. He excelled at community organization. Dr. Welch helped to found the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Denver in 1977 with support from the Administration on Aging. The Scholarship Fund was established to continue his vision of educating professionals in the field of aging.
Applicants must complete a two-page essay in addition to the application addressing your ability to work with the elderly emphasizing your (1) previous experience with geriatrics/gerontology; (2) leadership qualities including initiative, organizational skills, and ability to influence others; (3) your ability to meet people and your interest in working with the elderly; (4) your current or previous involvement in school, community, churches or other venues where you interact with the elderly; and (5) your plans for the future including specific involvement with geriatrics/gerontology, and working with the elderly.
Awardees will be notified by telephone and mail contact. Awardees are expected to attend the 37th Annual Meeting of the Colorado Gerontological Society to receive the scholarship award. The Annual Meeting will be held on December 9, 2016 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Courtney Neary is currently studying for a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Aging Services & Policy at the University of Denver School of Social Work. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Gerontology from the University of Connecticut.
Courtney interned her senior year in college at Senior Care, an adult day center in Connecticut. She helped to create and run programs at the adult day program, including how to facilitate sensory stimulation activities with individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Recently she was able to assist the faculty at the University of Connecticut to argue successfully to retain the gerontology program, as it was facing significant budget cuts based on her internship at the Denver Office on Aging.
As a first year student at the University of Denver, she interned at the Denver Office on Aging where she was instrumental in helping to write the Age Matters report that serves as the blueprint for the City and County of Denver’s aging policy.
Her second year internship is with Masterpiece Living which is a cultural approach to successful aging based on the belief that more is possible as we age. The Masterpiece Living program is housed primarily in continuing care retirement communities. She is specifically working with the Walk to Wellness program to include more residents with limited mobility and transitioning the program to Movement Matters.
The Colorado Gerontological Society is pleased to award a $1000 scholarship to Courtney Neary.
Mona Osterhoudt is currently a student in the Master of Social Work program at the University of Denver.
Mona has returned to graduate school after a long history of working with Adams County Adult Protection and as a care coordinator with Physician Health Partners.
Previously she was the president of the Adams County Senior TRIAD from 2010 to 2012. Prior to that she served as the Vice President for 2008-2009. She was a member of the Adams County Aging Network and has work on the Alzheimer’s Disease walk-a-thon .
She has supervised social work candidates from Metro State University when she worked as an adult protective services worker. She worked to help students understand the complexities of governmental systems, and build trust and rapport with clients on the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to care.
The Colorado Gerontological Society is pleased to award the Henry Welch Scholarship to Mona Osterhoudt.
Nancy Mendoza is a PhD student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University. She received the Henry Welch Scholarship in 2010 when she was studying for her master’s degree in gerontology at the University of Northern Colorado.
Her major area of interest is grandparents raising grandchildren. Most recently she was selected as one of thirteen students nationally by the American Evaluation Associations’ Graduate Education Diversity Internship Program. She will evaluate the Dahlia Center for the Mental Health Center of Denver to create support groups and multigenerational nights for grandfamilies. She is studying efforts to increase and promote self-care.
She continues to work in a nursing home in summers, volunteers with the Grand Family Coalition, and is a member of the Larimer County Alliance for Grandfamilies. She is also teaching aging classes focusing much of her work on experiential work with elders in addition to theory.
The Colorado Gerontological Society is pleased to award the Henry Welch Scholarship to Nancy Mendoza.