Here are some bios, and impressions of the program from some of the Paid CCPs.

Name: Marty Bentley
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: Psychology and Communication
Campus activities: President of the Evans Scholars House, Psi Chi member, Sankofa, Alcohol Safety Awareness Peers
About your CCP experience: CCP has defined my college experience. Through CCP I gained the strongest friendships, I learned more than any other classroom, and I received hands on experience that will actually help me achieve my future goals. I feel much more confident in who I am and what I want to make of myself.
Plans after graduation: I am currently applying to graduate schools in the Midwest. I hope to receive an M.S., with a concentration in School Social Work or Advocacy, Leadership, and Social Change.

Name: Michelle Gao
Hometown: Champaign-Urbana, IL
Major: Human Resources and Industrial Relations
Campus activities: OMSA Graduate Mentor, Counseling Center Latino/a Outreach GA
About your CCP experience: Every day that I’m in CCP makes me grow and try to better myself. The people I have met in the program have brought new awareness to me about the world we live in and how I can contribute. This program has really become my home, and I have so much love for it and the wonderful, wonderful friends I have made. It’s been the best part of my U of I experience.
Plans after graduation: After I graduate (again!), I hope to find a job in leadership and development within an HR role. Fingers crossed!

Name: Aubree Henderson
Hometown: Mahomet, IL
Major: Psychology, Gender & Women’s Studies
Campus activities: Sexual Health Peers (treasurer)
About your CCP experience: CCP has been the single most important part of my college experience. This program has helped me to form amazing connections with people and organizations on campus as well as to develop my helping skills in ways I could never have imagined. CCP is everything!!
Plans after graduation: I am hoping to continue on to a Master’s program in either Social Work or Counseling (I am applying to both types of programs now. fingers crossed!) I’d like to work as a counselor or case manager, and I’m interested in working with LGBTQ populations, individuals with mental illnesses, and the homeless population.

Name: Miriam Kahn
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Major: Psychology, minor in French
Campus activities: In addition to being a Paid CCP, I am also involved in Colleges Against Cancer’s Leadership Team and am also a part of the Psychology Honors Program working on my Bachelors Thesis
About your CCP experience: I always find it difficult to sum up my CCP experience in just a few sentences, but to keep it short and sweet, CCP has been the best thing that has happened to me in college. It truly opened up my eyes to the many ways of seeing the world and seeing human beings and their complexities. It reignited my passion for pursuing a helping profession and helped me discover my own self.
Plans after graduation: Nothing is set in stone at the moment, but I am currently applying to graduate school for Social Work as well as Counseling Psychology programs. I will be happy with whatever I am doing as long as I am involved with helping others

Name: Alice Owolabi
Hometown: Westchester, IL
Major: Elementary Education
Campus activities: Women of Color Treasurer, NUFP Fellow, I-Connect Diversity Facilitator
About your CCP experience: I am so thankful for the wonderful and beautiful people I have met during this experience. It is energizing to be surrounded by people whose deepest passion is to help and serve others. They make me strive to be better. Not only did I gain a new family, but this experience provided the space for me to grow at U of I. I am not the same person I was went I came into the program and I am loving the woman I have become under this program.
Plans after graduation: After the Alma Mater and I take pictures in our matching caps and gowns I plan on going into my first year of teaching in an elementary school. I really want my own classroom (inspired by Pinterest) and the ability to impact the youth of this country.

Name: Rebecca Schlesinger
Hometown: Riverwoods, IL
Major: Psychology and Communications
Campus activities: Resident Advisor, Research at the Center for Parent Child Studies, Phi Kappa Phi Member, Psi Chi Member
About your CCP experience: CCP has been life changing! It has been fulfilling on a personal, professional, and social level. I am fortunate enough to be able to use the skills and experiences I have gained in the program on a daily basis. I am thankful each and every day to be a part of the CCP program. I am indebted and incredibly thankful to all of my mentors and peers who made this life changing experience possible.
Plans after graduation: I’m interested in pursuing a Ph.D. Counseling Psychology. I hope to work with clients, advocate for social justice, and continue to use all of my CCP skills to become a professional samurai.