Northern High School Scholarship Awards Ceremony. Pictured left and then right: Ava Elliott and Olivia Rawe, NHS AAUW- Garrett Branch Scholarship Recipients. Pictured in middle: Christine Campe-Price, AAUW-Garrett Branch Scholarship Committee Chair.
AAUW-Garrett Branch recently announced the 10 recent recipients of its 2024 Branch Scholarships totaling $7,500 so far for the year. According to Christine Campe-Price, Scholarship Committee Chair, the scholarships will support the cost of higher education for the recipients during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Still to be awarded this year is the Marilyn Moors “Second Chances” Scholarship at Garrett College.
Also working on the AAUW-Garrett Branch Scholarship Committee were AAUW members Elaine Formby, Kendall Ludwig, Maxine Shindel, and Kathy Zimmer. Says Campe-Price of her committee members, “I am grateful to each of them for their hard work and insights. I so appreciate how each committee member brings a different perspective to the process and that working as a group, the best decisions are made. The Committee was busy this spring, reading and evaluating many applications.”
Southern High School Scholarship Awards Ceremony. From the left pictured first and third: Kathy Zimmer, and Maxine Shindel, Scholarship Committee Members. From the left pictured second and last: Abigail Butina and Allie Newman, SHS Scholarship Recipients.
The list of 2024 scholarship recipients is as follows:
Abby Weimer & Leah Wilt – Allegany College of Maryland Allied Health Scholarship
Currently, Abby and Leah are both nursing students at Allegany College, who upon graduation will continue their nursing education at Frostburg State University. Both graduates of Garrett County high schools, Leah explained “As a student financing her education independently, your support has a major impact on my ability to continue my educational journey.” Similarly, Abby thanked AAUW by saying, “By awarding me this scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden which will allow me to focus more on my education.”
Olivia Rawe & Ava Elliott – AAUW Northern High School Scholarship
Olivia just graduated in the top ten of her class, tackling a challenging class load of Advanced Placement and Honors classes. David Yoder, Northern Principal, explains “Olivia has consistently demonstrated leadership skills, excellent character, and determination both on the playing field and in the classroom.” She will pursue her BSN at Frostburg State University. She plans to become a pediatric nurse practitioner and have her own practice one day.
Having just graduated from Northern, Ava is now studying pre-nursing at Garrett College and will transfer to either Frostburg State University or WVU to complete her bachelor’s degree. She plans to use her RN in Labor and Delivery or the Emergency Room. Her interesting job at Cherry Hill Assisted Living has provided relevant and helpful health care experience, reinforcing her career plans. Campe-Price mentioned that it was a pleasure getting to know Ava at the AAUW-Garrett Branch summer picnic held in July!
Abigail Butina & Allie Newman – AAUW Southern High School Scholarship
Having developed her leadership skills at Southern, serving as captain for multiple sports and as a student council leader, Abby would like to “continue to serve as a leader in college and beyond.” She plans to study environmental science and geographic information systems at the University of Maryland College Park, as a 1st generation 4-year degree student. She also plans to become the first in her family to earn a graduate degree.
Allie received both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree from Garrett College this spring, taking advantage of the Dual Enrollment Program. A first-generation college student, she will study criminology at West Virginia University. Her ultimate plan is to get a law degree and own her own practice. She is realistic about the challenges ahead, explaining “One of the biggest obstacles I face or am going to face through college is finances.”
Cesilie Tasker & Samantha Preaskorn – Mary Blair Whytsell Scholarship
Cesilie used her 2023 AAUW High School Scholarship toward her associate’s degree, which she just completed at Garrett College. She has served as Secretary of the AAUW Garrett College Student Chapter and volunteered with other community organizations. A first-generation college student, Cesilie has been accepted to West Virginia University where she will study physical therapy. Her ultimate goal is to complete graduate studies to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Samantha has distinguished herself at Garrett College, not only as a straight-A student and Campus Advisory & Activities Board representative, but also as a member of the first women’s soccer team. Soccer Coach Brandon Jackson explained, “Samantha was not only a leader in the locker room, but she was also a leader on campus.” Having just earned her associate’s degree this spring, she is transferring to West Virginia University for an undergraduate degree in exercise physiology and then, ultimately, a Physician’s Assistant degree.
Bethany Carrington & Ashley Ruby – AAUW General Scholarship
Bethany recently completed her high school education, graduating as a student athlete from Calvary Christian Academy’s homeschool review program. Her part time work at Goodwill Retirement Community has inspired her to pursue a degree in geriatric nursing from Concordia University in Wisconsin. Says Bethany, “After graduating from college, I hope to return to Garrett County and give back to my community.”
Ashley is the Director of the Learning Common & Academic Success at Garrett College. She is “a proponent of lifelong learning”, having received her BS in 2008 and a MA in 2010 from Frostburg State University. This scholarship will enable her to complete her doctorate in Higher Education Administration through the University of Southern Mississippi. “This degree will allow me to elevate my career aspirations to a senior leadership position where I may have an even greater impact on student success outcomes,” she says.
Finally, scholarship funds enabled Garrett College student leader, Alayna Savage, to attend the National Conference of College Women Student Leaders, sponsored by AAUW national and AAUW-Maryland, in College Park earlier this summer. Alayna is also the current AAUW Garrett College Student Chapter President. She reported about her experience at NCCWSL saying, “I attended presentations on a wide range of subjects such as transforming my life through compassion, learning about the new changes to Title IX, and information on creating institutional change when it comes to menstruation.” Alayna believes the conference experience may have been a life-changing event.
Campe-Price stated “As you can see our robust scholarship program helps both traditional and non-traditional students, at all different stages in their educational careers. These impressive women represent the future, and we proudly support their academic journeys.”
The AAUW-Garrett Branch Scholarship Program is made possible by the donation of time, energy, and money by so many in our community. Says Judy A. Carbone, President of AAUW-Garrett Branch, “On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to thank Christine and the Scholarship Committee members; the volunteers at the End-of-the-Line Bookstore; our financial donors, both large and small, including the GFWC Oakland Civic Club; and all of the AAUW-Garrett Branch members for their generous contributions of time and effort raising scholarship funds!”
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. Since its founding in 1881, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. The Garrett Branch of AAUW has been working since its creation in 1946 to bring strong women together for activities related to women’s empowerment in our community.
If you are interested in learning more about AAUW-Garrett Branch and supporting the branch’s initiatives and programs, please visit their Facebook page or call Judy A. Carbone, Branch President, at 301-616-5036.
