Professional Development Grant Applicants
Admin Information
Date Submitted: July 17, 2016
Application Number: PDG-14
Admin Decision: Approved – Edit
Date of Decision: July 17, 2016
Decision Comments:
We are happy to award $570.00 to assist with attendance at the Path Int’l Conference. This amount is payable after we receive via email confirmation that registration has been paid. After the conference, we request that a write up/summary of the experience be sent to ECHO for posting on Facebook, the website or other appropriate media outlets. We encourage submitting photographs, as well. In addition, we request that the recipient “like” the ECHO Foundation Facebook page and request that the recipient encourage others to do the same.
Applicant Information
Name: Michelle Eng
Title/Position: PATH Certified Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Address Line 1: 1206 Jamestowne Drive
Place of Employment
Farm/Program Name: n/a
Supervisor’s Name: n/a n/a
Supervisor’s Title: n/a
Address Line 1: n/a
Experience
Years in Position: 10
Average Hours Per Week: 0
Do you have any certifications or licenses? Yes
Certifications & Licensures:
PATH Intl certified Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor, status received January 2011Special Olympics North Carolina Certified Equestrian Coach, status received summer of 2008
Support Request
Is the request for a conference or meeting? Yes
Conference/Meeting Name: 2016 PATH Into Conference and Annual Meeting
Hotel/Conference Center Name: Williamsburg Lodge
Provide justification for this request.
By attending this conference, I am hoping to gain fresh, current, and relevant information and perspectives into the field of therapeutic horsemanship. I will also be attaining valuable continuing education hours to keep my PATH Intl instructor status current.Right now I currently am unable to work in the field of therapeutic horsemanship as none of the centers in my area are hiring/able to afford to pay staff. However, it is a field I have invested a lot of my time, energy, skills, and life to over the past 10ish years, and even though I can’t/don’t use those skills every day, I want to stay informed on the current developments of this field, and keep my certification valid so that when a job opportunity arises to work in this field again, I will be equipped and ready.
Provide a detailed budget.
I would be grateful for however much assistance could be provided. Cost is always the deciding factor in whether or not I am able to attend PATH conferences, and while they are worth what they cost, the conference fees of $570 plus lodging costs for the week (estimate of anywhere from $200-500 depending on hotel) are more than I can justify paying from my entry-level food service job for not being able to work in that field currently, but I hate to ‘lose’ what I have invested in this field from it not being used daily.
Other expected sources of support (including self-support).
With the conference not being until the beginning of November, I have some time to put aside money from each paycheck towards the conference costs. Saving over $800-$1000 in 3.5 months is probably not feasible or a wise use of my ‘livable income’, but I could quite likely save up $400-$500PS I don’t currently work at a barn, so I wasn’t sure what to put in those fields, but I do work full-time (40-45 hours a week) in food service to provide a living for me and my pony. I work very hard at my job, and while I don’t wish to work food service forever, it is the means I have been given for right now to earn a living. I am very responsible, frugal, and conservative with my money and my lifestyle; bills first, then the pony, then anything else comes out of whatever is left:-)
Signatures
I/we certify that all of the information contained herein is correct and true.
Applicant Signature: Michelle Eng