LEWISTON, Idaho – Theresa Whitlock-Wild, a 2017 graduate of Lewis-Clark State College, has received the Outstanding Student Award at the University Professional Continuing Education Association’s West Region Conference, which was held recently in Seattle.
Whitlock-Wild graduated from LCSC-Coeur d’Alene in May with a degree in communications. She was nominated for the Outstanding Student Award by LCSC’s Community Programs based on her work as the first work scholar at LCSC-Coeur d’Alene. The LCSC Work Scholars program, the only one of its kind in Idaho, pairs high achieving students who have financial need with meaningful jobs both on campus and in the community. Each student receives a full tuition scholarship for the academic year in turn for working 10 hours a week.
Whitlock-Wild coordinated the Swinging for Scholarships golf scramble in Coeur d’Alene, which raised nearly $7,000 this past May, a record for the event. The money raised will go to scholarship funds for LCSC-Coeur d’Alene students. Whitlock-Wild solicited sponsorships for the event, moved it to a different golf course, and improved the format.
Whitlock-Wild also has been heavily involved with the Matt’s Place Foundation, which she co-founded in 2015 shortly after her husband Matt was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The non-profit organization was created to assist people with ALS and their families. It’s intention is to provide hope, housing, and assistance to families who are dealing with motor neuron diseases like ALS, Parkinson’s disease and spinal muscular atrophy.
In April of this year, Matt’s Place Foundation announced it had broken ground on its first ALS-friendly home in Coeur d’Alene. The home was also showcased in the Coeur d’Alene Parade of Homes this fall. The house has a smart home design, which will allow Matt to open the house with his eyes, along with opening and closing doors and windows, among other items. The foundation is hoping to build more home like this in northern Idaho.
Whitlock-Wild helped raise more than $200,000 to help with construction for the home.
Along with being an LC Work Scholar and helping with fundraising for Matt’s Place Foundation, Whitlock-Wild was a full-time student and made the school’s honor role. She earned her bachelor’s degree while being care provider for her husband and raising three children.
“She is an excellent example of devotion to family, perseverance under adversarial conditions, and determination to complete multiple projects competing for her attention – all while doing them exceedingly well,” LCSC Dean of Community Programs Kathy Martin wrote in her nomination letter.
The UPCEA West Region consists of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and parts of Canada. Whitlock-Wild is now one of five finalists for the national award, which will be announced in March at the national conference in Baltimore.