Women's Group Gives 2 Scholarships, Raises Funds

A beautiful spring day in the midst of a garden setting greeted about 120 ladies at the annual Women for Western Tea, April 3.

Annually the women's auxiliary group raises money throughout the year for a specific project and accepts donations to the college's Women for Western scholarship endowment fund. Following strict selection criteria, the group presented two $1,000 scholarships to deserving female students. This year the committee selected Candyce Biornstad, Alaska, and Jana Pierce, Albany, Ore.

"To be honored with this scholarship is very rewarding because everything helps to offset college costs. I'm very thankful," Candyce said. A sophomore pursuing a health science degree, Candyce wants to work in obstetrics.

This year's group project has been to replace and recondition furniture in student lounges. The group's president, Linda Hoff said through the efforts of Women for Western volunteers and generous donations from supporters, the group has raised well over $7,000.

"We will continue the project, through June to meet our $9,000 goal. We're happy that the scholarship fund has grown to $24,000 which allows us to present the annual scholarships without reducing the fund's size," Linda added.

During the tea, Nancy Martyn, Becky Leithold, Carolyn Purtell, and Stephanie Husk, from the Adult Studies Division, presented an informative program which included an impromptu skit-type visit from "Earldeanne" (Kim Hughes). Linda said it was a time of laughter. "Yet, it's also sobering, when we realized the benefits of educating through this program by the testimony of Adult Studies graduate, Sandra Keller,."

Linda is very pleased that the project received so many generous gifts this spring from those who could and could not attend the tea. Some of the visiting ladies took a tour of one of the dormitories which benefited from the project. "They were surprised to see what can be done to a piece of furniture with new fabric covering it," Linda said. "Thank you to all who support us through your prayers and gifts."

In July, Women for Western will publish the final project total and announce their new project for 2004-05.