2017–2018 AAUW OML Scholarship Information
High School Scholarship (deadline March 6, 2018)
Saint Mary’s Scholarship (deadline March 12, 2018)
Scholarship Winners
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- Valeria Martin, Zoe Portnoff, Cara Wolfe, Annie Dao
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- Blake Sharp
AAUW OML Awards Eleven Outstanding Young Women with Scholarships
On Sunday, April 23, 2017 the Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette branch of the Association of University Women (AAUW) celebrated with 11 remarkable young women from Lamorinda schools by awarding six Tech Trek camp scholarships to middle school girls and Community Service scholarships to high school and college seniors. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls.
One $5,000 and two $1,000 community service scholarships were awarded to three high school graduates: Zoe Portnoff, Campolindo; Blake Sharp, Miramonte; and Cara Wolfe, Acalanes. In addition, two scholarships, for advanced studies were awarded to Saint Mary’s graduates. Annie Dao received a $5,000 award and Valeria Martin received a $2,000 award.
Community Service Projects
It is encouraging to recognize the level of commitment these young women offer their school community. Here are some of the ways they made their school a better place— members of school band, sports teams, peer tutoring, academic decathlon, and honors programs. Our awardees planned and participated in cultural programs for their schools. One founded a program to help students who suffer from effects of concussions. Another student mentored fellow students as a resident advisor in the St. Mary’s dormitories and realized she could make a difference in the world through working with college students in the future.
The local community benefited from many of their interests. Awardees created a program to recognize and to reward middle school students’ writing and photography talents. One girl aided students with disabilities and volunteered in English as a second language class in local school districts. Others volunteered with Urban Farmers in Oakland, Tony La Russa’s Animal Foundation, San Jose Regional Medical Center and John Muir Hospital. Awardees also volunteered in our OML branch service projects Sister-To-Sister and EYH STEM Conference.
These young women also embraced the global community with equal gusto. Applicants volunteered at Casa de los Angeles, a daycare center for single mothers in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, worked in a non-profit clinic in Vietnam and translated and documented the Incan artifacts at the Machu Picchu museum. As co-chair of the Students for the Advancement of Global Education, a high school student raised funds for the Malala Foundation and sponsored the education of an Afghan girl.
Gayle Uilkema’s Campaign Fund Donation to AAUW-OML Scholarships for Women
The following is an excerpt from a letter from Carol T. Singer, Treasurer of long-time AAUW member and Contra Costa County Supervisor Gayle Uilkema:
Gayle Uilkema, Supervisor for District 2, Contra Costa County, passed away in May [2012] after serving on the Board of Supervisors for almost 16 years. In 2011 Gayle had announced her intention not to seek re-election to a fifth term on the board, beginning in January 2013.
Gayle had planned to take some time to pursue her personal life and perhaps then seek election to another office. When it became apparent that this would not happen, Gayle allocated her campaign funds to organizations in District 2. She was always very concerned about the needs of the people she represented, and she spent time considering where the funds might be most useful.
As Supervisor Uilkema’s campaign Treasurer, I am distributing her campaign funds in accordance with her wishes and with regard to State law governing the allocation of such funds. A check is enclosed to your organization. Gayle wished that these funds be used for local scholarships of $5,000 each for girls, graduate and undergraduate.
Carol T. Singer, Treasurer, Campaign to Re-elect Gayle Uilkema