WMU News

Educator wins second scholarship offered by WMU group

July 16, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- A doctoral student in the Western Michigan University's College of Education has been chosen as the second recipient of an annual scholarship for University graduate students.

Deborah Renard, a Kalamazoo resident who is working toward a doctoral degree in counseling psychology, has been chosen as the 1998-99 recipient of the Western Michigan University Dames Endowed Scholarship. She will receive $500 to be applied toward tuition, fees and books.

The scholarship was established by the WMU Women's Association and the University Dames. The first scholarship was awarded last year. Candidates must have completed 15 credit hours of graduate work, with preference given to female students.

Renard came to WMU after completing a bachelor's degree in psychology at Kalamazoo College. In 1994, she completed a master's degree in counseling psychology and subsequently entered the doctoral program.

Renard, who has an interest in abnormal psychology and in working with people with disabilities, is a licensed professional counselor and a qualified mental retardation professional. She was a 1998 participant in the Future Faculty Program sponsored by the WMU Graduate College.

She already has counseling and teaching experience and has published several articles. Renard expects to complete her doctoral degree during the 1999-2000 school year.

The University Dames was founded 85 years ago as an organization for the wives of WMU faculty members. In the early 1990s, the organization evolved into the WMU Women's Association, which was open to any woman associated with the University. The association, now primarily made
up of the wives of retired faculty members, recently returned to the organization's original name, the University Dames.

The WMU Dames Endowed Scholarship is administered by the Graduate College. For more information about the award, call Michael Pritchard, senior associate dean, or Angela Walsh, administrative assistant to the dean, at (616) 387-3570.

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 616 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu


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