Aftermath Collegiate Scholarship Recap and Reminder

Last year, Aftermath created a new contest, designed to promote and support all three of the company’s primary pillars: education, safety, and community. The annual event, called the Aftermath Collegiate Scholarship, would award two students $1000 toward their education. In addition to meeting basic criteria, participants were asked to write an essay that touched on some aspect of death care and the biohazard cleaning industry. Last year’s topic addressed professionalism in the workplace. After hours of reading and deliberating over 800+ entries, Aftermath Services proudly announced the two recipients.

In a blog post from that month, winners Christina Hubred and Harmony Mohr were asked to talk a little bit about themselves and their educational pursuits, as well as what led them to apply for the scholarship. The following is an excerpt from that post:

2015 Aftermath Collegiate Scholarship Winners

Christina Hubred is a dental hygenist, looking to advance her career with further education and training. She currently attends Metropolitan State University in the Twin Cities, where she is seeking her Masters in advanced dental therapy. The Oak Grove, MN native says that she found the scholarship announcement through her school’s financial aid website and Fastweb, an online resource designed to help students locate available internships and scholarship opportunities.

Representing Allentown, Pennsylvania, scholarship recipient Harmony Mohr is a full time student majoring in the complex field of Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to her degree, Mohr is pursuing a Certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine and is currently acting as the Vice President for the Premedical Organization for Minority Students (POMS) at her university. She is also a corps member for the Jumpstart Program, educating preschoolers in language and literacy skills to help prepare them for success in kindergarten. Mohr says she learned of the Aftermath Services Collegiate Scholarship from a scholarship list posted by JLV College Counseling, a private counseling service that assists families and students with admissions.

Interestingly, while neither student has a background in law enforcement or biohazard cleanup, both were able to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the value of trauma cleaning services. Hubred says she learned a lot about the importance of biohazard remediation while writing her essay: “There are a lot of television shows that focus on crimes and the pursuit of justice; however, we often overlook what happens after the police tape is taken away. Those involved with the cleanup have to be knowledgeable about the potential health hazards of a crime scene, and how to safely avoid exposure. They would also have to know what steps to take to create a safe environment for future tenants.”

Mohr agreed: “Before researching and writing about biohazard remediation for the Aftermath Services Collegiate Scholarship, I was unaware of the resources, like Aftermath Services, available to individuals, businesses, and families who need assistance during the aftermath of loss and trauma.” Like Hubred, Mohr spent time learning about the business before completing her essay. “Through my research I was able to learn about the number of steps and regulations cleanup technicians follow to ensure the safety of their customers and themselves, and how dedicated they are to providing compassionate and conscientious service for their customers.”

This Year’s Contest Has Already Begun!

The 2016 Aftermath Collegiate Scholarship has already started! All majors and programs of higher education are welcomed to apply. This year’s essay topic is a timely exploration on the subject of grief as it pertains to grieving in social media. To learn more about the contest, or to fill out an application and find out how to submit your essay, visit the Aftermath Scholarship Webpage. This contest ends June 30th, so enter soon!

As always, Aftermath Services is committed to providing active leadership and support to communities where we work. From charitable financial donations to local sponsorships, scholarships, and volunteering, Aftermath is involved in a variety of valued efforts nationwide. To learn more about the company’s community initiative, visit Aftermath Community Support.