Recipients
class of 2020- Elizabeth Jones and Makenzie Gleason
This year, we awarded two scholarships for the class of 2020. We felt that both Elizabeth Jones and Makenzie Smith were outstanding applicants, with a passion for mental health awareness and an intent to continue advocating for this cause.
Elizabeth Jones is an outstanding advocate for members of our community, and has shown a heartwarming dedication to helping others. She will be attending Iowa State to major in psychology, with a potential focus in law, therapy, or teaching.
I want my friends and peers to know one hundred percent that I will always be there to help them with their mental health and that it isn’t shameful to seek help. […] It hurts to see my loved ones struggling with something they could have support with if only society developed a more loving, caring attitude towards people with mental illnesses. […] There’s a long journey to be had and much work to do, but it will be worth it when we can provide a more welcoming and understanding world for our children, nieces, nephews, siblings, and grand-children.
-Elizabeth Jones
Makenzie Gleason has shown incredible dedication to understanding mental illness both intellectually and personally, which has impacted both herself and her peers. She will be attending the University of Iowa to study neurobiology.
It’s hard to feel like something is going wrong in your life but you don’t have a voice to express it, and I know that when it comes to mental health there is still no perfect solution. I care about mental health because I have seen how devastating it is in my family and my community when it isn’t treated. I want more people to be educated and understand that mental health is important for everyone and should be treated as such. […] Every person should factor their mental health in with their everyday life because it affects their everyday life.
-Makenzie Gleason
We wish Elizabeth and Makenzie all the best, and are excited to see how their passion for mental health will continue to drive change in our community.
Class of 2019- Gurleen Kaur
We were happy to award our annual scholarship in 2019 to Gurleen Kaur. She is someone who we feel fully embodies the spirit and mission of Project Silence no more. Gurleen is a driven and passionate individual who we know will make bold strides in the name of mental health advocacy and awareness. She is currently attending the Iowa State University with plans to attend medical school become a Psychiatrist. We are thrilled to support someone who is passionate about a lifelong commitment to ending the stigma around mental illness.
“I hope to spread the message that having a mental illness is okay. I want to help people understand mental health. I don’t just want to normalize the conversation, I will normalize the conversation.”
-Gurleen Kaur
We also were thrilled to have Gurleen speak at our 2nd annual mental health awareness concert this summer. Click here to see a video of her speech.
class of 2018 - megan walker
We’re excited to announce that the 2019 PSNM scholarship goes to Megan Walker! She has shown that, through courage and perseverance, anyone can start the conversation. Megan is now attending The University of Iowa, where she majors in psychology and plans on eventually going to medical school to become a psychiatrist.
People need to know that what [my family and I] went through could be prevented just by having a simple and honest conversation with the people around us. I think the biggest thing we need to do is start talking about it everywhere, especially in schools. The pressure to fit in is so strong that kids are locking their feelings and struggles away. They’re too afraid to stand up and start the conversation, so we need to do it for them.
-Megan Walker
Class of 2021- APply NOw
Want to be our 2021 scholarship Recipient? Click here to apply.