Amidst the COVID-19 shut-downs, 28 local women and girls received scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year.
The University Women’s Foundation of Jefferson County, an affiliate of the Port Townsend Branch of AAUW, awarded more than $65,000 in scholarships to women and girls from East Jefferson County, via phone calls and emails rather than in the traditional annual recognition ceremonies.
These awards encompass a spectrum of ages and career pursuits, from high school STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), to technical school and careers, women returning to college, continuing college and starting the college application process.
This year’s winners are:
• Lindsey Hoffman, who is pursuing a bachelor’s in nursing and planning to become a nurse practitioner, was awarded the Elmira K. Beyer (EKB) Scholarship for $11,000. The EKB is for women who have begun, but not completed, their college education.
• Kathryn Molotsky, currently in her second term of a master’s in elementary education, was awarded $8,500 for an academic scholarship based on the same criteria as the EKB.
• Isabella Harvey, in environmental engineering, was awarded the Constance Anna Pash Scholarship of $3,500 for college students pursuing STEM degrees, with an emphasis on math-based disciplines.
• Katherine M. Davis, pursuing a Ph.D. in marine ecology, and Samantha Rae, pursuing a master’s in comparative health sciences, were both awarded Environmental Scholarships for $3,000 each.
• Pallas Burhen (not pictured) pursuing a B.S. in biochemistry, received the Lisa T. Painter (LTP) Scholarship for $5,900.
The LTP Scholarships are awarded to women who plan to study law, fine arts or healthcare disciplines. Additional Academic Scholarships awarded included:
• $1,000 to Mimi Molotsky, aspiring to be an international human rights lawyer.
• $550 to Emma Liliana O’Shea, pursuing a degree in health care.
• $400 to Kelly Grace, who envisions opening a healing center.
• $350 to Lindsey Hoffman, who plans to become a nurse practitioner.
• $200 to Leianna Kunz, who wants to become a family lawyer.
Technical School andCareer Scholarships included:
• $5,000 to Samantha Heron, pursuing an AAS in construction technology.
• $2,500 to Sarah Schreiber in traditional wooden boat-building at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding.
• $2,500 to Angela Lungu in the Marine Systems program at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, to become an engineer.
High school scholarships for the first year of college are offered to seniors at Port Townsend, Chimacum and Quilcene high schools. Scholarships of $4,000 each were awarded to:
• Anika Avelina at Port Townsend High School.
• Rachel Matthes at Chimacum High School.
• Madison Coffey at Quilcene High School.
Two recipients of the 2019 High School Scholarships — Renee Woods and Callay Boire-Shedd — will receive $1,000 Sophomore Assistance Scholarships this year.
Each year, AAUW-PT honors East Jefferson County girls with $100 STEM awards. Port Townsend, Chimacum and Quilcene counselors and classroom teachers nominated three girls for awards in the areas of science, math and technology. Their names are not included for privacy.
The criteria for the various scholarships are found on the PT AAUW website at pt-wa.aauw.net, with a description of the annual application process.
