Counseling program makes donation to Quest Stables

The Master of Science in Education – Counseling (MEC) program recently made a donation to QUEST stables in Quincy, Ill. QUEST (Quincy Equestrian Services and Therapy) specializes in equine-assisted therapy, primarily for children with disabilities. Founded in 2009, QUEST began as a rescue operation for abandoned and neglected horses. However, they soon expanded their services to provide therapeutic riding lessons and other activities for children in need. QUEST is a member center of the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association, and therapeutic services are provided by instructors who are certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. As a not-for-profit organization, QUEST is run entirely by volunteers, and depends on the donations of caring individuals and organizations in the community to sustain its operation.

The Quincy University MEC program, in conjunction with the Chi Omega chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, an international academic and professional honor society for counseling, made a donation of $500 to QUEST earlier this month. The money for the donation was raised during a holiday fundraiser in December, also sponsored by the MEC program and Chi Omega. MEC students, faculty, and alumni, as well as Chi Omega members, raffled a gift basket featuring an assortment of holiday treats, merchandise, and gift certificates from local businesses. This was the first fundraiser sponsored by the MEC program and Chi Omega, and MEC program faculty hope that the success of this first fundraising effort will lead to an ongoing tradition of charitable services within the community.

The mission of the Quincy University MEC program is to train individuals to become competent professional counselors. The program facilitates personal and professional growth via a combination of academic rigor, experiential learning, personal and professional reflection, and service to the community. The MEC program is committed to the development of counselors as ethical, reflective practitioners and Servant-Leaders, who exhibit an affinity for lifelong learning, a commitment to social justice, and an appreciation for the diverse world in which they live and practice.