Katelyn  Baker

Katelyn is earning her Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology at Kent State University. She found her passion for this major by collaborating with my her local elementary school speech pathologist and was given a hands-on internship to learn and experience all school speech therapy while in high school. She served as an aide to students in K-5th grade and provided support and encouragement in therapy.  She learned that speech therapy is a new outlook on receiving productions from a range of communication.  This work and witness children in the school therapy experience made her realize her desire to further her education in Speech Language Pathology.  She plans to complete her clinical fellowship year working with preschool-age populations within school districts.  She hopes to work with children with a wide range of speech disabilities from mild to multiple disorders and would like to collaborate with school faculty to develop interdisciplinary teams and be of support to parents. Katelyn is very appreciative of this  $1,000 scholarship from the Massillon Quota Club.
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Douglas Ryder

Photo above with his mother Judy Ryder
Doug is completing his Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from The University of Akron.  He states that being a full-time graduate student and working part-time does not leave a person much free time. Training to become a Marriage and Family Therapist forces one to look at their own upbringing, challenge one's concept of family dynamics and realize how ignorant one is on the matter. It's been a two and one half year process.  Prior to beginning his Masters degree, Doug spent four years in South Korea teaching English to help save toward graduate school since he wasn't sure what type of counseling he wanted to pursue.  While overseas, Doug met a woman who was trained as Marriage and Family Therapist and was intrigued with her work with military families.  He liked what she did along with the fact that she got to travel.  He would like to do something similar once he completes the program, but may stay stateside and work for the VA and specialize in trauma therapy for veterans.  Doug will have two more years of supervised fieldwork once he completes his degree before he can earn his independent license.  He is doing an internship with Ohio Guidestone in Summit and Stark Counties.  One of the greatest challenges with in home therapy services is getting parents to understand the concept of family therapy versus individual therapy where they just want their child fixed.  It usually involves the whole family .  Doug is very appreciative of the DWC Scholarship Award of $1,000.  He is the son of longtime Massillon Quota member, Judy Ryder.