St. Francis Senior Awarded 2018 Jim Russell Scholarship

University of St. Francis senior Kirsten Leininger of Manhattan, Ill. has been named a recipient of the 2018 Jim Russell Scholarship Award presented by the Southwest Coalition for Substance Abuse Issues. The scholarship award is in the amount of $500 and may be used toward tuition, books or school fees.

Leininger said she chose substance abuse counseling as a major for personal reasons.

“I have lost friends to overdoses and to institutions,” she said. “I have witnessed some of the most amazing people struggle to put the pieces of their lives back together after being ripped apart by addiction. It truly is a privilege to be able to work with individuals that fight addiction and to be trusted with their traumas and inner battles and cannot imagine myself doing anything else. I am incredibly blessed to have discovered a field that I have such passion for so early on in my life.”

After she graduates in May, Leininger plans to continue her education at graduate school to become a licensed, professional counselor. Simultaneously, Leininger also anticipates working as a CADC in a treatment facility. She credits USF and its professors for being well-prepared to take on a career that will allow her to have a positive impact on countless people.

“USF has an amazing program for substance abuse counseling,” she said. “It is the only one of its kind in Illinois. By the time I receive my bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling, I will be a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, giving me the qualifications I need to work as a counselor with only a bachelor’s degree.”

“I have also had the opportunity to work with professors I admire dearly and with whom I hope to continue working for years to come,” Leininger added. “Each one of my professors in the substance abuse counseling department has either worked or still does work in the field, giving them greater insight into the theories and techniques they teach. I could not ask for a better set of mentors and teachers that are passing their knowledge onto me each day.”

Lawrence Dunbar, head of the USF Substance Abuse Counseling Program and Leininger’s advisor, knows good things are ahead for her.

“We are all very proud of Kirsten winning the 2018 Jim Russell Scholarship Award,” he said. “Kirsten is a dedicated student and is passionate about her studies and her career path helping individuals and families rebuild their lives.”

Elizabeth Davies, Ph.D., dean of the USF College of Arts and Sciences, echoed Dunbar’s praise.

“The world needs more students like (Kirsten), who are committed to making a difference in the lives of those affected by substance abuse. She represents the best of St. Francis,” she said.

The Jim Russell Scholarship Award is named in honor of James T. Russell, who passed away on March 5, 2014. Russell was an active member of the Southwest Coalition for Substance Abuse Issues for many years. He helped grow the organization from a handful of providers to over 30 today and served as the coalition’s treasurer and membership chairman. Russell lived a life of service to others. The following lines in the St. Francis Prayer had special meaning for Jim and describe how he lived his life: “Where there is despair I may bring hope. Grant that I may seek to comfort rather than be comforted.”

The Southwest Coalition for Substance Abuse Issues encourages individuals to further their knowledge and education within the behavioral health field. The applicant’s declared field of study must be in the field of Behavioral Health. However, priority is given to applicants enrolled in Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA) Accredited Training Programs (ATP). The University of St. Francis is one such Accredited Training Program.

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