AAUW celebrates scholarship recipients

At the May 20 meeting AAUW is celebrating with the recipients of the four scholarships awarded by the branch in 2024. Continuing a long tradition of a scholarship to a non- traditional woman student at Minnesota North, this year’s recipient is Heather Smith, a Practical Nursing student from Bovey. This scholarship was first established at Itasca Community College in 1996.

Four scholarships are being awarded through the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation. In 2006 the Branch began a funding drive to support a non-traditional student who was working to complete their education. The scholarship was to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the Grand Rapids Branch in 1949. This scholarship was first awarded in 2010. This year in addition to two Anniversary Scholarships a third scholarship was awarded through the generosity of former resident Dean Skallman who is the brother of Treasurer Julie Skallman. With the generosity of members the scholarship amount was increased to $1500. Amy Glass of Bovey plans to study Psychiatric Nursing at Walden University. Lacey Paulley of Deer River will be entering a Veterinary Technician program at Penn Foster. Roni Davis of Marble is pursuing a Registered Nursing Degree at Northwest Technical College in Bemidji.

The fourth scholarship is a special $4000 award given by AAUW member Linda Lonson in memory of her mother Karen Lonson. Karen was a long-time AAUW member, first in Hibbing and then in Grand Rapids. She was active in business and her daughter wants to support a woman student who pursuing this. Meghan Meyer of Marble will be studying Accounting and Finance at St. Scholastica.

The final regular meeting of the season is a special dinner meeting at Forest Lake Restaurant. Enhancing the celebration will be music from the Northern Pine Trio. Marina Whight, Emily Slaubaugh, and Amy Leigh Koivisto have been making music individually and crossed paths at the Reif and Grand Rapids Players. In the fall of 2023 they began making music together, weaving harmonies as they explore music from folk, country, theatre and film.

The mission of AAUW is to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. More information is available at www.aauw.org or by calling Janis Johnson at 218-259-6003 for membership information.