Photo page header

Home

Moving Forward

Student group raising funds to benefit other students

Students from Ichabods Moving Forward

From The Ichabod - Fall 2019

Ana Lima found herself in a financial predicament last spring, and a new student group, Ichabods Moving Forward, was there to help.

Lima grew up in Brazil and received a scholarship to attend Washburn University. After she graduated in 2014 with honors, she took a job as a case manager helping people with intellectual disabilities.

“I helped them connect with and receive their services, and it was a very rewarding, but difficult job,” she said. “I was the only one in the nearest county who could also speak Spanish, so I traveled around a lot.”

Her dream job required a master's degree in psychology, and she was accepted into Washburn’s program. Unfortunately, her father had passed away a few years prior, and she was no longer receiving family support for her education.

She knew if she was going to get through the master’s program, she had to work hard as international students can’t take out federal loans. She took on multiple jobs with Counseling Services, the sexual assault prevention and training program on campus, and the psychology department. Still, without family help, she was not able to pay her expenses working at minimum wage.

“Even though I received the Student Employee of the Year award on campus for all of the work I did, I still needed to pay a good chunk of money to be able to get my transcripts and diploma to my future employer,” said Lima, ba ’14, ma ’19.

That’s where Ichabods Moving Forward stepped up. The student-led organization raises money for an emergency fund to help recipients get through one-time financial emergencies when all other resources have been exhausted. Sydney Fox, a communications studies senior who serves on the group’s board, said a financial crisis can force students to drop out of school, and students want to help each other during tough times. Students apply anonymously, and the board reviews their case and decides to award them money or help them navigate other resources.

While it helps Washburn students stay in school, it also teaches the importance of philanthropy to students who donate to the group and those who sit on the decision committee.

“The rewarding part is we are helping students we don’t know,” Fox said. “I’m a person who likes to help others and it was an organization that was different from anything I was doing.”

Because of Ichabods Moving Forward, today, Lima is also helping others. She received a grant from the organization to pay down her tuition bill, and she was able to access her transcripts and diploma after graduating summa cum laude. She was recently hired by Wyandot Behavioral Health Network in Kansas City, Kansas, as a crisis clinician.

“I’m extremely grateful to Washburn,” Lima said. “It’s the reason I have this job.”

Ichabod statue

Learn More

Ichabods Moving Forward is a student-led philanthropic organization sponsored by the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation. Members provide an opportunity for students to help fellow Ichabods through difficult times by supporting an emergency assistance fund for students and by students.

GIVE TO THE CAUSE

One-hundred percent of your donation will go toward the Ichabods Moving Forward emergency fund to help a student in need.

Give Now

 

Winter 2024 The Ichabod magazine cover with picture of the bell tower and snow fallen on campus

The Ichabod tells our story with features on alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends, along with the latest campus news. View the current and past editions

 

Please enter your username and password below. If you do not have a username and password, click "New user registration" to register.

Login
New user registration
Forgotten password

1729 MacVicar Avenue
Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785.670.4483
Email: contactus@wualumni.org