610 The Professional Counselor | Volume 10, Issue 4 All exemplify MFP fellow statements regarding the benefit of funding toward their doctoral degree. Similar to other subthemes, some respondents identified many areas that crossed subthemes and contributed to their success: “This fellowship has been instrumental in my successful completion of the doctoral program through resources, mentorship, financial support, and a network of professionals.” Mentorship, the final subtheme in this category, reflects the impact of the mentors supporting fellows through their doctoral journey. Respondents indicated, “It allowed me to get the funding and mentorship needed to successfully graduate and transition into the mental health counseling field,” and “The scholarship was meaningful in providing collegial relationships with others pursuing their PhD, connected me with mentors and provided useful resources.” Mentorship, among other resources, is a core component of the MFP. Clinical and Multicultural Competence Survey respondents spoke to the NBCC MFP’s structured training in clinical and multicultural competencies woven within the fellowship year. Some responses included the following: • “It helped me become more confident about my counseling skills, especially when working with minority populations.” • “Assisted me in completing my dissertation and getting the cultural training I needed.” • “The fellowship allowed me to intern at the U.S. Department of Education, which enriched my understanding of services to people with disabilities.” The annual Bridging the Gap Symposium and its emphasis on mental health inequalities was mentioned in one response: “The [Symposium] networking with other fellows has been valuable. I’ve been able to build upon my education in regard to health care disparities for people of color.” The subtheme of counselor identity describes survey respondents’ development as counselors within the profession. Examples included, “This fellowship validated my counselor identity because my interest is with minority populations,” and “Expanding my professional development and further defined my counselor identity.” Paying It Forward The final theme highlights how NBCC MFP fellow respondents desired to give back to the MFP community via mentorship, application reviews, and/or serving on the MFP Advisory Council. Some statements included: • “I’ve also been able to give back and mentor others as well as review scholarship/ fellowship proposals. Having those opportunities allowed me to have an influence on the counseling field.” • “Further, I have been able to share my experiences as a fellow with my master’s students and encourage them to apply.” • “The most meaningful elements of the fellowship have been the increased professional network and the opportunity to give back to the MFP by working with NBCCF and new fellows.” The subtheme of leadership spotlights how the fellowship experience strengthened fellows’ leadership capacities and skills. One example included, “The fellowship has afforded me the opportunity to
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