Shepherd Student: Jill Waity

"I tutored an elderly Chinese woman employed as a custodian. She worked hard but made little money. She worked late hours but was committed to improving her literacy skills. She was hardly the face of poverty many in this country pretend to know." . . . more

Shepherd Student: Kelly Will

Name: Kelly Will

Hometown: Holly Springs, NC

Major: Psychology

Where you interned: Total Action Against Poverty (TAP) in Roanoke, VA. I worked with This Valley Works the GED and job training part of TAP

Capstone Topic: Medicaid the mental health coverage

Community Service/Involvement:

                Volunteer Venture participant and leader

                Service Suite taking 4^th and 5^th graders on service projects in Lexington, VA

                Tutoring at Waddell

                Tutoring at the GED class at the Armory

                Campus Kitchen Project

Reflection:

The Shepherd Program has really shaped my Washington and Lee experience.  I was not particularly interested in politics, health care, or economics before taking Poverty 101 but that has all changed. I understand the importance of being an involved and informed citizen. The Shepherd Program made me realize that it all starts with little steps. Writing a proposal for the JPMorgan GoodVenture competition, which Casidhe Horan, Caroline Mann, and I never thought would amount to anything, turned into a trip to New York to try and win $25,000. We didn’t win there, but the presentation and resulting exposure has gotten $9,000 for the program and I will graduate knowing I had a part in that. I wrote a paper for my psychology class with my friend Chony Lu and the board of the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) approved the changes we suggested. Now the Food Pantry will have children’s vitamins and foods for pregnant and nursing mothers. The place will also be changed to a more grocery store atmosphere to allow patrons choice in what foods they take home. I will be working with a  non-profit for my first few years out of college and I know that I may not remain in the non-profit sector my whole life but I will always be involved in my community because of the Shepherd Program.