Scholarship Essay Writing for Migrant Educators

When

Thursday, November 10, 2022 (9-11am)

This workshop will be recorded for those who cannot attend the live session via Zoom! Please find the video at the end of this page.

Description

In this two-hour workshop, co-presented by Donna Spence and Casey Rampe, participants will be provided with a framework for leading students through a process that will help them to tell their story in a way that is empowering and cathartic as well as effective in obtaining scholarships. Participants will receive an agenda, handouts, sample essays, examples of video clips for inspiration and other support for leading a group or an individual through the process.

The content in this presentation is geared towards serving the migrant populations in New York State as defined under Title I, Part C and the approved State Service Delivery Plan, and may NOT be appropriate to all situations.

Please refer to the  disclaimers page, which includes the vendor notice, Google™ Translate disclaimer, and nondiscrimination and accessibility policy, before proceeding further.

Objectives

1. Migratory students have overcome major obstacles in their young lives. Processing these obstacles, recognizing the damaging effects, and identifying the positive character qualities they have developed as a result is a critical emotional skill. In this workshop staff will be presented with a step-by-step strategy to lead students to develop this skill. 
2. Being able to express complex and emotional concepts clearly and concisely is a social and academic skill that students must have to be prepared for adult life. This workshop will offer a framework to support students to cultivate this ability.
3. Participants will learn a model that can be used to teach students to understand the components of a successful scholarship essay so they can be prepared to submit college and scholarship applications.
4. Staff will be encouraged to provide students with information and guidance regarding scholarships to assist students in planning how they will find, apply for, and follow up on applications throughout the school year. Focus will be on preparing students to advocate for themselves.
5. Participants will be prepared to guide students to compose an essay that can be used for college and scholarship applications.

Presenters

Casey Rampe worked for Brockport Migrant Education for six years as a tutor-advocate and AOP specialist, focusing on identity development, high school graduation, and college and career readiness with teens. She has also worked in immigration law and facilitated workshops with Opening Doors Diversity Project, and holds a BA in Anthropology from SUNY Geneseo. Originally from Victor, NY, Casey now lives in Buffalo with her husband, dog, and three kids. She loves beekeeping and spending time in nature.

Donna Spence worked for Brockport Migrant Education Program for 24 years as a coordinator and director until her retirement in 2021. She has taught Global Studies, Adult Education, ENL, and pre-school. She has facilitated workshops at state and national conferences, and wrote Finanza financial literacy curriculum (available on the OSY website). She co-facilitated workshops for Opening Doors Diversity Project and recently co-facilitated Diversity Equity and Inclusion workshops for Finger Lakes Community Health. Donna holds a BS in Sociology, a MS ED in School Counseling and completed advanced coursework in Special Education. She grew up on a small family farm in Niagara County and now lives in the middle of a 5-acre apple orchard in Holley, NY. She enjoys caring for her chickens and turkeys, gardening, sewing, traveling, riding motorcycles and every minute she can spend with her grandchildren.

Special Instructions

Optional:  Print the Workshop Resource documents (see below) prior to the start of the workshop if you work best with paper copies! However, they will also be shared on screen.

Workshop Recording

(Part 1: 38 minutes)

(Part 2: 1hr, 2 minutes)