Two of the three $1,000 scholarships
recently awarded by the Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council in
Jefferson City (MOSILC) were awarded to students
sponsored by Heartland Independent
Living Center (HILC). The scholarship
was open to any high school senior or college student with a certified
disability.
Eighteen applications were
received from throughout Missouri. Three
students were chosen to receive the scholarship to be used at the Missouri
school of their choice.
St. Francis Borgia 2013
graduate Ian Yenzer was one of the $1,000 scholarship recipients. He is currently attending Maryville
University majoring in Psychology with an emphasis on rehabilitation
counseling.
Fatima High School senior
Megan Wieberg of Westphalia also received a $1,000 scholarship. Among other extracurricular activities, Megan
is the historian of the school’s National Honor Society. She has not yet chosen a college.
“It gives me great pleasure
that Heartland Independent Living Center was able to sponsor two of the three
statewide scholars selected for the MOSILC scholarships,” stated HILC Executive
Director Pat Chambers. “We are delighted
to lend these students a helping hand in their pursuit of higher education.”
The independent living
philosophy supports the rights of individuals with disabilities to have the
same opportunities as those without disabilities; the right of choice, control,
freedom, and equality. Centers for
Independent Living offer services to assist individuals with disabilities to
make decisions about their own life, achieve or maintain independence, and
participate in their community.
One of the 22 nonprofit centers
in Missouri, Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) provides services to
individuals with disabilities in east central Missouri. Among the free services HILC provides are
advocacy, information and referral, independent living skills training, ramps
and home modifications, nursing home transition, adaptive medical equipment,
and dental services. HILC holds the
Better Business Bureau Charity Seal.