Amber Westbrook of Wesson, a May 2023 graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, has been named a prestigious Bower Scholar, earning more than $12,000 in scholarship funds to complete her social work degree at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Westbrook, along with four other community college transfer recipients, will receive $12,500 over the course of five semesters, plus an additional $382 toward obtaining her license.

“Amber has shown exceptional promise and demonstrates remarkable compassion, hard work, and professionalism,” said Keith Stovall, Co-Lin Social Science Division Chairperson and Instructor. “She’ll make a fantastic social worker and we can’t wait to see the impact she will make.”

The Bower Foundation, located in Ridgeland, awarded $386,000 in grant funding over five years to The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Social Work to enhance workforce development. Rachel Lahasky, coordinator of USM’s BSW program and instructor in the school, kicked off the new Pathways to the Profession program by identifying representatives at five community colleges who have agreed to help coordinate enhanced professional development opportunities for students interested in learning more about the social work profession.