Howard Center, the largest designated agency for mental health and developmental disability services in the state, has awarded Catherine Simonson Educational Advancement Scholarships to staff members Astin Altenburg, Marissa Ronick and Prem Bhattarai. The scholarship, named for the center's former chief client services officer, was created to help center employees reach educational goals so they can continue their careers in social services and related professions.
Altenburg, a staff member at a Howard Center program serving young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Ronick, who works mostly in Howard Center residential programs, are using their awards toward graduate degrees in clinical mental health counseling at Vermont State University. Bhattarai, who also works in one of Howard Center’s residential programs, is putting her scholarship toward a nursing degree at VTSU.
“It’s a real pleasure to be able to help our staff reach their educational goals and recognize Catherine’s many contributions to Howard Center,” said Mickey Merola, chair of the scholarship committee. “All of us on the committee wished we had enough resources to help every person who applied. Howard Center needs skilled and determined staff to deliver quality services, and anything we can do to help colleagues grow in their careers is good for the agency and the people we serve.”