LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 6, 2017) – Formally ushering in a program that enables students to earn both college credit and invaluable life experiences, Woodbury University’s Scholastica Cruz and Nataly Nazarian have been named the first recipients of WISE (Woodbury Integrative Student Experience) grants, the university announced today. Each has received a $1,000 WISE Tuition Scholarship.
Woodbury’s innovative WISE Program develops compelling educational experiences in five areas –undergraduate research, study away, civic engagement, leadership, and internships. WISE fosters transformative experiences that develop graduates with strong professional identities, applicable to emerging local and global communities. The program is available to eligible students throughout the university.
Cruz, a junior and a Psychology major, participated in the internship/work experience component of WISE, serving with Behavioral Learning Center Inc. in the San Fernando Valley. At BLC, which provides behavior analytic services to children and adults with developmental delays and related conditions, she worked with children who have mental disabilities. Her father’s battle with Alzheimer’s inspired Cruz to pursue a career in psychology.
Nazarian, a senior and an Accounting Major, participated in the WISE program’s Leadership component through Woodbury’s student-run Accounting Society, where she served as president. Dr. Eric Schockman, Chair of Leadership, mentored Nazarian on how to be a better leader in her role as head of the Society. “Scholastica and Nataly are talented, exceptionally worthy recipients of our first WISE Tuition Scholarships,” said Raida Gatten, Interim Associate VP of Academic Affairs. “Both are well positioned to benefit from these enriching, potentially life-changing experiences, and we look forward to supporting both in their future endeavors.”
WISE has established five High Impact Practices (HIPS) as part of the students’ experience at Woodbury, adding value to the curriculum and engaging students in learning that relies on the benefit of HIPS, she said. WISE provides opportunities to engage in potentially transformative in-classroom and out-of-classroom learning experiences. Under WISE, an intentional partnership between the two creates the opportunity to make a sustained impact. The five WISE experience areas include:
Students can choose one to two of these experiences as part of the Woodbury University Guarantee and earn up to $2,000 in tuition scholarships.