Sharon Kemp Memorial UW Oshkosh Scholarship Fund
Donation protected
Friday, September 17, 2021, marks 6 years since the passing of my mother, Sharon, on Thursday, September 17, 2015. This year is symbolized by the words 'LASTING' and 'LEGACY'.
In honor of Sharon and how much she has impacted my own educational opportunities, and as I continue my doctoral journey, I have decided to open a scholarship fund through the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; my undergraduate BSW alma mater. Specifically, I am establishing a memorial scholarship fund in Sharon's name to be disbursed to a deserving undergraduate or graduate-level Social Work student pursuing academic studies in social work practice in the areas of mental health / crisis services.
I have chosen this memorial fund option at this time because of my connection to the Social Work program at UW Oshkosh and my mother, Sharon's, interactions with Employee Assistance Program Social Workers in the last years leading up to her death. Even though we lost Sharon through suicide, EAP Social Workers played a critical role in attempting to diagnose and manage life stressors in Sharon's life prior to her death.
As I reflected on how I would honor her memory in the year of 2021, just as I have done each year since 2015, I have thought long and hard about who Sharon was and continues to be in my life.
This year, the year itself, 6, for me is a peculiar one. There are the 1st's (always the hardest everyone says), the 2nd's (the first year where someone begins to feel the 'sinking in' of loss, and so on and so forth. When I said out loud to myself a few months back, '6 years', admittedly there was a bit of awkwardness. Much like when someone thinks about the celebration of a silver or golden wedding, the 6th year doesn't have a lot of 'chime' or 'ring' to itself unlike the 1st, the 25th, or 50th.
So, I thought some more and the word 'LASTING' came to mind.
How could I create something more 'LASTING'?
'LASTING' led me to think of 'LEGACY' and how even though Sharon's death was by suicide, she left a legacy through the life experiences and relationships she had throughout her life.
I am working through fund set up details with the Alumni and Foundation representatives currently. I will be contributing the initial lump sum of $1,000 toward the fund establishment and would very much appreciate your support in increasing the dollar amount impact on Social Work student educational opportunities this memorial fund will have to Social Work students pursing their educational dreams and goals and who in turn will ultimately and positively impact the world in which we all live!
I kindly ask for your assistance in establishing this fund with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh currently through this GoFundMe drive.
Thank you in advance for helping keep the memory of Sharon alive through the advancement of educational opportunities for Social Work students!
~ Much Appreciation, Jason
In honor of Sharon and how much she has impacted my own educational opportunities, and as I continue my doctoral journey, I have decided to open a scholarship fund through the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; my undergraduate BSW alma mater. Specifically, I am establishing a memorial scholarship fund in Sharon's name to be disbursed to a deserving undergraduate or graduate-level Social Work student pursuing academic studies in social work practice in the areas of mental health / crisis services.
I have chosen this memorial fund option at this time because of my connection to the Social Work program at UW Oshkosh and my mother, Sharon's, interactions with Employee Assistance Program Social Workers in the last years leading up to her death. Even though we lost Sharon through suicide, EAP Social Workers played a critical role in attempting to diagnose and manage life stressors in Sharon's life prior to her death.
As I reflected on how I would honor her memory in the year of 2021, just as I have done each year since 2015, I have thought long and hard about who Sharon was and continues to be in my life.
This year, the year itself, 6, for me is a peculiar one. There are the 1st's (always the hardest everyone says), the 2nd's (the first year where someone begins to feel the 'sinking in' of loss, and so on and so forth. When I said out loud to myself a few months back, '6 years', admittedly there was a bit of awkwardness. Much like when someone thinks about the celebration of a silver or golden wedding, the 6th year doesn't have a lot of 'chime' or 'ring' to itself unlike the 1st, the 25th, or 50th.
So, I thought some more and the word 'LASTING' came to mind.
How could I create something more 'LASTING'?
'LASTING' led me to think of 'LEGACY' and how even though Sharon's death was by suicide, she left a legacy through the life experiences and relationships she had throughout her life.
I am working through fund set up details with the Alumni and Foundation representatives currently. I will be contributing the initial lump sum of $1,000 toward the fund establishment and would very much appreciate your support in increasing the dollar amount impact on Social Work student educational opportunities this memorial fund will have to Social Work students pursing their educational dreams and goals and who in turn will ultimately and positively impact the world in which we all live!
I kindly ask for your assistance in establishing this fund with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh currently through this GoFundMe drive.
Thank you in advance for helping keep the memory of Sharon alive through the advancement of educational opportunities for Social Work students!
~ Much Appreciation, Jason
Organizer
Jason Kemp
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN