From the president
Isabella Sheldon, a first year student at Westminster College, is a focused and driven student leader passionate about supporting children and communities. Whether working with children impacted by family member incarceration in Missouri or with kids in Poland after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Bella's efforts combine the joy of learning with the development of important life skills. She has brought that passion to Westminster College, where she has worked with the local soup kitchen, connecting systemic issues with individual struggles.
Personal Statement
I first became involved in addressing issues of social inequality during high school. I began volunteering with a summer camp program focused on children who either have previously or currently incarcerated parents, as well as children in the foster care system. Many of these children live in households and communities where poverty, abuse, and drug use are common. Many children who grow up in environments like these end up continuing the cycles of drug use and incarceration. In college, I began volunteering with a local soup kitchen, and it became very clear that this community had a need for organizations and programs that help alleviate the suffering of those most impacted by rural poverty. Building on my experience with resource-sharing models, I believe this community would greatly benefit from a program that would directly support this town's youth, focusing on skill-building for adolescents living in poverty.