Seven UNCP graduate counseling students have been awarded $10,000 in scholarships from the Governor’s Institute on Substance Abuse.

The recipients are: Rashanda Coachman, Samantha Nelson, Sara Parisi, Jenna Rankin, Rosa-Rodriquez-Cortes, Rashida Wise and Rebecca Zumpe. Each will receive $1,428 to cover tuition for addictions-specific counseling courses taken over the summer.

The students are enrolled in the Department of Counseling’s Graduate Certificate in Addictions Counseling program.

“Students enrolled in the graduate certificate program have a unique opportunity to pursue associate-level licensure in North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) upon graduation,” said Dr. Stephanie Robinson, an assistant counseling professor.

“The scholarship funding received from the Governor's Institute on Substance Abuse removes a financial barrier for these students and allows them to focus on completing their educational requirements and the meaningful ways they can provide mental health and addiction treatment to the underserved communities and individuals in NC.”

As part of the award criteria, recipients must provide addiction treatment services to individuals in underserved, rural areas of North Carolina for at least two years following graduation.

The overall goal of the Governor’s Institute on Substance Abuse is to increase the number of Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialists who provide addiction treatment to individuals in rural areas of the state.