Will Johnson, long-time St. Louis Center benefactor and Community Advisory Council member, generously funds a college scholarship each year to benefit a staff member of the Center. Staff members themselves, or their children or grandchildren who are furthering their education, may apply. This year Staci Ellerby, a member of the Social Services team, was the scholarship recipient.
Staci’s Journey
Staci worked for an adult foster care home in Adrian, MI before Covid. During the pandemic, Governor Whitmer announced the ‘Futures for Frontlines’ program so that people who did not have an associate’s degree could obtain one at certain community colleges without cost. Since Staci hadn’t yet completed her degree, she applied and was accepted at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) . At first, she focused her studies on Healthcare Administration, but soon realized it was not her calling.
In May 2022, she started working at St. Louis Center in the Social Services Department. After seeing social workers in action, it encouraged her to switch her course of study to social work. Working in the department showed her how important the role of Social Services Specialists is as advocates for the residents. Staci graduated with an Associate’s in Art from WCC in December 2023 and was licensed as a Social Work Tech in March.
After her WCC success, Staci decided to continue her studies and earn a bachelor’s degree. She enrolled at Eastern Michigan University in May, completing the prereqs needed for the School of Social Work. Staci officially entered the program in August as a full-time student, with classes that include Theory and Writing for Agency. She is also doing a small internship as part of a class that teaches the work of non-profits in the Ypsilanti area. Her full internship begins in January. Staci plans to graduate from the program in December 2025.
The Award
The Will Johnson Scholarship Award reception was on Monday, September 16th. Will Johnson and Diane Kurtz presented Staci with a book he wrote. During the official award presentation, he offered Staci great advice based on his own experiences as the first CEO of Chelsea Hospital. Will keeps in touch with the scholarship recipients and continues to offer them advice and encouragement.
Read the entire issue of St. Louis Spirit here!
