Testimonials from Recipients of the Ruesch/Garris Scholarships

THE PINNACLE
by Thomas Obeng

April 22, 2005 was the date. It was a rainy day, and Ghana was flooded. There was pain and sorrow, because people had lost their loved ones and property. Amidst the anguish and despair, I heard a knock on my door. I went to open the door and there stood this giant gentleman in a Federal Express suit.  After thorough questioning, he handed over a package to me and said goodbye about three times without making a move. Apparently, he had had the opportunity to visit the United States for about two weeks, and all he had learned was about receiving tips. He failed to realize that having been immersed in the Ghanaian culture where a simple “thank-you” is enough to show appreciation; I did not understand the principle of tipping. Eventually, he had no choice but to leave reluctantly without meeting his expectation, the “tip” for delivery.

Thomas Obeng, left

I opened the unexpected package anxiously and to my amazement, I had a job offer from an organization abroad, and that was the beginning of the journey to Caring, Honesty, Respect Responsibility and Faith, the YMCA of the Rockies. I went out through the rain to look for the delivery man to say thank-you in a proper way, in cash, but I missed him. Little did I know that my ambitions, my dreams, my transformation and my life would begin at YMCA of the Rockies!

I worked as a housekeeper for three months at the YMCA of the Rockies, and soon it was time to go back to school. In 2006, I returned to the Y to work as a Resident Assistant for four months. I learned new things and became knowledgeable in office procedures. I again had the opportunity to come back in May 2007, but this time as an intern in Human Resources for eighteen months. It was this same year that I was to graduate from a degree program at the University of Ghana.

For all the journeys that I’ve made to the United States, I had to borrow money for my air fare since it is so expensive. Paying off all my debts coupled with demands from family, friends and neighbors, was too much for me to be able to pay off my tuition. I was therefore unable to graduate due to my indebtedness to the school. When I arrived at the YMCA, I got the opportunity to apply for the Ruesch Scholarship and I was very fortunate to be a recipient of $600. I was so excited about this and the amount was sent to my school to pay off all my fees. 

I’ve had a long term plan of pursuing my Master’s degree in August of 2009 in the field of Human Rights and Social Justice. Since tuition is so expensive in the United States, I again applied for the 2008 Ruesch Scholarship even though I wasn’t sure I’d be considered. To my utmost surprise, I was again fortunate to be selected for a $500 scholarship to help enroll me into graduate school. I was amazed and overwhelmed at the receipt of this scholarship because I hadn’t even been accepted into a graduate school, yet the scholarship committee believed in my dreams and quest for a better future and decided to award this scholarship to me.

I’ve seen, experienced and acknowledged a great improvement in my life since I started working at the YMCA of the Rockies in 2005. I’m a perfect example of career development, progress and equal opportunity at the YMCA of the Rockies. I worked as a housekeeper in 2005, Resident Assistant in 2006, Resident Assistant/Guest Services in 2007, Human Resources trainee in 2008 and hopefully will do Financial Development in 2009 before I start graduate school. This is the greatest transformation in my life. To my family, I’m their Joseph. To my church, it’s from grass to grace. To my friends, from zero to hero and to my community, I’m their pride. The future will determine what I can do for my Country and for the World. This is why I’ve captioned my article, “THE PINNCLE”. “Forward Ever, Backwards Never”. This is what YMCA of the Rockies can do and I’m most grateful for this opportunity.

Hilary Weimer at Mills Lake

What the Y Means to Me
by Hilary Weimer

After working a year as a seasonal employee in the Executive Offices, I received the Ruesch/Garris Scholarship in 2008 to help with my first year of graduate school.  I have just started my MA in International Development at the University of Denver. 

The gift of this scholarship has helped lift a financial burden for me and has enabled me to concentrate on my studies to be the best student that I can be.  I really appreciate the YMCA of the Rockies helping me with my education.  I love the YMCA and what it stands for. 

I really think it is important for families to find a place to re-connect. I hope that with my advanced degree, I will be able to give back to the Y in the future.  It is such a special place and offers a refuge from the busyness of the everyday world. I look forward to coming back to the Y in the future and to hopefully being in a position to be able to contribute toward this scholarship in order to offer other staff members the opportunity to follow their dreams.

Lauren Semeyn Brock Life Changing Experience by Lauren Semeyn Brock As a recipient of the Ruesch Scholarship, I was able to pursue my under graduate degree in Spanish and Psychology with a minor in pre-occupational therapy. Growing up at the YMCA of the Rockies, I had the opportunity from a young age to interact with many staff role models who demonstrated the core values of the Y in their daily lives. I developed a love of people and a desire to serve others; specifically to work with persons with disabilities in underserved settings. Receiving the Ruesch Scholarship allowed me to work less hours, enabling me to pursue volunteer activities at a local elementary school and food pantry. Receiving this scholarship greatly reduced my college debt, and after graduation I was able to spend 2 years in a developing country as a Community Development Volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps. I am now back in school, pursuing a graduate degree in occupational therapy. I am sure that in the future I will continue to draw on the many experiences and lessons I learned at the YMCA of the Rockies, from attending Day Camp as a child, to working many summers in various departments. I am very grateful to have received the Ruesch Scholarship which played a crucial role in jumpstarting my educational journey and continuing pursuit of serving underserved populations in the United States and beyond.