Scholarship Newsletter Article
Our Branch Scholarship Committee met virtually on two occasions to select by the recipients of our scholarships: the AAUW-TC Minnie Votruba Moore Scholarship, the Zimco LLC Scholarship, and the Branch scholarship. The purpose of these scholarships is to recognize and assist women who seek to enrich their educational credentials and thereby enhance their personal and/or career opportunities. The criteria are that the recipient must have completed two or more years of higher education beyond high school and be enrolled or will be enrolling in at least nine credit hours in an accredited program. Also, the applicant must reside in the five-county Grand Traverse area: Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau. We received twelve applications for the Minnie Votruba Moore Scholarship and five applications for the Zimco LLC Scholarship. The Branch scholarship recipient was selected from the combined pool of applicants. Each scholarship is for $2,000.00 for the 2021–2022 academic year.
Annabelle Fortine was selected to receive the Minnie Votruba Moore Scholarship. She graduated from Benzie Central High School. Annabelle is a first-generation college student and is completing her sophomore year a Central Michigan University, pursuing a degree in elementary education with double minor integrated science and reading. She has been accepted into CMU’s STEM Education Scholar Program which is part of the College of Education and Human Services. The program immerses future educators in real world problem-solving experiences so as to help alleviate potential problems with integrating STEM into the classroom themselves in the future. The elementary education program at CMU is a five-year program, which Annabelle is on track to complete in four years. As a member of the National Science Teachers Association, a registered student organization, they hold Family Science Nights at elementary schools In the Mr. Pleasant area. Prior to the pandemic she created several different science experiments for students, at these events, with take-home instructions for parents. In the past year the program moved to a virtual presentation she has created YouTube videos that students throughout the world can watch to learn more about science.
Audra Goodlock is the recipient of the Zimco Scholarship. She graduated from Spring Arbor University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Art in Criminal Justice. Currently she is enrolled in the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Masters Degree program at Western Michigan University, with a focus on school counseling. She expects to graduate in April 2022. Audra has long felt the need to advocate for youth who are unable to advocate for themselves, particularly in the realm of mental health. In the past she has worked with youth in various settings. Currently she is employed as a foster-care case manager at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, assisting children and families from Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Kalkaska Counties. Audra notes that she is always astounded by youth’s resiliency and strength to overcome adversity. She comments that as much as she strives to help children, they help her to recognize how truly capable are. Her goal is to become a school counselor after graduation.
LeighAnn Endres was chosen to receive the Branch scholarship. She graduated from Traverse City Central High School and is completing her junior year at Grand Valley State University through NMC University Center, majoring in the allied health pre-physician assistant program. She believes that her interest in health care began at a young age as she observed the care provided to her father, by nurses and physicians, during his recovery following a serious auto accident. Her subsequent experiences as a nursing assistant in the emergency room at Munson Medical Center have confirmed her passion to pursue a career in health care and her dream of becoming a physician assistant. LeighAnn volunteers in a variety of activities at her church and says she has learned that the little things mean the most to people, and that you don’t always have to do big things to make a difference. She also volunteers at the local blood center and as a ski patrol officer at Mt. Holiday.
The funds for the Zimco LLC and Branch scholarship will be provided directly to the recipients to be used for books, supplies or tuition as need. These funds will be awarded in equal parts, in August and December 2021, after the recipients have provided proof that they have enrolled or registered for at least nine credit hours for the upcoming semester.
All of the scholarship recipients will be invited to attend a Branch event this spring, when a definite date is known, so that you can meet them.
Thank you to the scholarship committee for their time and interest: Leanne Baumeler, Shannon Friedgen, Cindy Hull, Ann Marie Love, Marlene Smith and Etta Rajkovich.