Spring and Summer 2023 Mortensen Donor Awards

Friedman volunteered as a helpline respondent with Sukoon: Healing of the Minds. Through this nonprofit organization experience, she has provided emotional support and resources to community members in distress. She became certified in Mental Health First Aid and has used this training to screen callers for risk of self-harm, de-escalate crisis situations, and listen empathetically. 

Condon spent time working at Minnesota Transitions Charter School as a school assistant. During this experience, she sat in on special education classes, interacted with staff and students, and assisted in various projects. She gained insight into interacting with students from different socioeconomic and ability levels. 

Greenhagen worked in Triniti Hospice as a hospice volunteer. She visited hospice patients and their families all while providing companionship and comfort. Her psychology background helped her to better understand the individuals she worked with which allowed her to better connect with and serve them.

Buccholtz interned at Le Village, a bilingual Montessori school in France. Buchholtz’s role was to work alongside the teachers to encourage and create activities where the students could develop their English-speaking skills. She worked with children ages 9-11 from a variety of financial and cultural backgrounds as well. She gained a deep appreciation and understanding of how the Montessori system enhances the development of its students compared to traditional methods of early education.

Laila interred as a receptionist at the Walk-In Counseling Clinic. There she helped greet clients as they entered the clinic and set them up with an available counselor. When the clinic closes for the day, she sits in on the team meetings and consults with the counselors and team consultants. Laila had the opportunity to learn more about counseling in a clinic setting.