2023 Carl A. Scott Book Scholarship Winners

Yesica Juarez

Yesica Juarez is an MSW student at Michigan State University where she also graduated with BSW. During an internship with Communities in Schools, she:
  • facilitated a group at an elementary school of non-case-managed students who needed assistance academically and emotionally;
  • solicited donations to the program, including funding, clothing, and other necessities; and
  • operated a safe space, encouraging, and providing students with tools to empower them to be their best selves.
Juarez also worked with Child and Family Charities as a youth service specialist. There, she provided basic needs for runaway, homeless, or at-risk youth who voluntarily admitted themselves into the shelter program. Juarez taught independent living skills to at-risk youth during weekly classes using a positive youth development philosophy. She was also responsible for the provision of supervision, crisis intervention, and appropriate modeling for at-risk youth.
 

Julene Ventura

Julene Ventura received her BSW at Siena College and is now an MSW student at the University of Albany. While completing her undergraduate degree, she interned at the homeless and runaway youth shelter at St. Anne Institute, where she taught at-risk youth independent life skills in a city setting. Ventura served as a role model and promoted healthy coping skills and relationships.

She currently works at the Family House homeless and runaway shelter at Family of Woodstock, Inc. In these roles, Ventura has gained nonprofit experience in both urban and rural settings. She plans to intern at Youth Research Inc. to gain macro learning experience on policy and intervention research in areas such as the foster care system, child welfare, youth program development, adoption, and more.