mary byron scholars
why a scholarship program?
Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically abused by a dating partner. 1 in 3 report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped or physically hurt by a dating partner. Teens are most likely to confide in a friend about their abuse. By empowering girls to protect themselves and support their friends and peers, we hope that this program will play a role in ending domestic and dating violence in future generations.
Scholarship History
The Mary Byron Project Scholars Program was established in memory of Mary Byron, a 1991 graduate of Assumption High School and a victim of domestic violence. The three-year $2,000 per year scholarship is a tuition grant for students who maintain a 3.50 GPA and wish to undertake a leadership opportunity among their peers and in the community relating to domestic and dating violence. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to six students in the sophomore, junior, and senior class at Assumption High School. The competitive entry process includes group and individual interviews, two references, and an application essay. Participants also attend a two or three day summer training session on domestic violence. The scholarship may be renewed as long as the student attends Assumption and meets the participation and academic requirements of the program.
The goal of the scholarship program is to educate young women about domestic violence and the precursor behaviors that appear in dating relationships. Ultimately, we hope to:
- Raise student awareness of dating violence at Assumption High School
- Raise community awareness about dating violence
- Develop peer group education on domestic violence
- Inform students about the roles that professionals in all fields can and should play in combating domestic violence
- Create a program with proven results that can be replicated at other high schools Provide scholarship recipients with training and support to continue their efforts into their college studies and/or professional careers
The program is conducted in association with Assumption High School, which provides support to the students on a day-to-day basis through a liaison. Program Director Amy Mudd provides oversight to the program and supervises the students. We are very proud of our Mary Byron Project scholars, who have used their training to give back to their school and community through in many ways. Scholars create bulletin boards, informational packets, and internal announcements to inform their peers about domestic violence and speak during mission week to raise awareness of the issue within the school community.
Our Scholars Work
Scholars have gone above and beyond these duties by organizing various events. For example, in the past, scholars have:
- Invited coordinators of the Green Dot initiative (http://www.livethegreendot.com/index.html) at the Center for Women and Families to speak to the school on the importance of bystander awareness and intervention to end the cycle of relationship violence. Fifty girls ultimately elected to receive more training in Green Dot and violence prevention.
- Scripted and participated in a podcast sponsored by Women Offering Wisdom (W.O.W) on the issue of dating and domestic violence. The podcast is available streaming here: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=10495&pageNumber=8&pageSize=15
- Most recently, the MBP Scholars organized a "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" track meet. They met with students and representatives of local boys' schools St. X and Trinity along with a local men's program, MensWork, to discuss their idea, get investment from the boys and schools, and get feedback to shape the event. The Scholars developed a variation of a traditional "Walk a Mile" event by having the boys compete in a relay race while wearing high heels. The event was a major success, raising $900 dollars and bringing new awareness to the issue of dating abuse.
Link to facebook album: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.199228336775482.50023.126052824093034
Direct link to televised interview at event:
http://www.whas11.com/community/Trinity-and-St-X-boys--118749134.html
Teen dating violence resources:
http://www.clotheslineproject.org/teendatingviolencefacts.pdf
http://www.acadv.org/dating.html
http://www.breakthecycle.org/who-we-are
Get involved
As of right now, Kentucky is one of only five states in the nation that does not allow victims of dating abuse to obtain protective orders. One goal of the MBP scholars is to work to get legislation passed that will extend these civil protections to victims of dating violence. To support this cause, add your name here: http://www.change.org/petitions/expand-kentuckys-domestic-violence-laws-to-include-all-couples-in-a-dating-relationship
