UWW Student Awarded Rute Avelar Scholarship

UWW Degree Completion Program student Lynne White has been awarded the 2020 Rute Avelar Scholarship.

Sixty years old and from Charlemont, Mass., Lynne is completing her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in human services. She also holds an associate degree in human services and a certificate in addiction studies from Greenfield Community College. Lynne is a mother of six (shown from left to right: Thom, Lynne, Lily, Briel, Walker, Hunter & Troy), with her youngest being a high school senior.

A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Lynne credits her recovery program for inspiring her to return to college and study human services. As a UWW student, she has maintained a 4.0 GPA. Lynne states, "because of this scholarship, my studies continue and the goal remains to earn a master’s degree in human services. And for me, it is most about giving back and ... leading a meaningful life of service to others who are faced with similar life circumstances."

Established by Celso Avelar, a longtime friend of the UWW program, the Rute Avelar Scholarship honors the memory and spirit of his beloved niece Rute Avelar, who passed away in 2003 at the age of fifteen. This scholarship is awarded once a year to a student in the UWW Degree Completion Program who demonstrates financial need, is in good academic standing, has an area of concentration in human services, mental health, applied psychology, or another related field, and whose career goal is to work with people in crisis.

If you would like to contribute to this important scholarship fund, you can donate here by entering "Rute Avelar Scholarship" in the designation instructions box.