Soroptimist International - Rogue Valley

SI of Ashland's first winner is Kimberly M. Thompson, an RCC student working on her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has a 6 year old daughter and works for Head Start.  A former foster child, forced to become totally independent at age 18, she plans to get a teaching degree and become the first in her family to graduate from college. She lives in Ashland and will receive $2,000 grant.

The Ashland club's second place winner is Nica E. Pap, a student at SOU working towards a degree in Nursing.  Nica's goal is to become a registered nurse.  She has two children and lives in Ashland. Nica will be awarded $1,000.

SI-Medford's first place winner, Coeli M. Dwivedi, will receive $1,000.  Coeli is attending SOU, working on her BS Degree in Health while taking the pre-requisites for the OHSU Nursing Program.  She hopes to continue with graduate study in the medical field and become a Family Practice Nurse Practitioner helping women of all ages.   She is a single mom of 4 children and lives in Ashland.

SI Medford's second place winner, Angel L. Loveland, is enrolled at RCC with to go on to a 4-year college and get a BS degree in Nursing and Psychology. She is a single mom with 2 children, living in Central Point, and has overcome many obstacles in her life. Angel will receive a $500 award.

Sunrise's first place winner is Sabrina A. Thomson, a Medford resident, who will receive $2,000.  Sabrina is in her last 6 months in the OHSU Nursing Program.  She hopes to become a nurse in a psychiatric setting. Sabrina is a single mom with 2 special needs children. She works a few hours a week in at RVMC on the Ortho-Neuro hospital floor.

Kristin D. Prince, SI-Sunrise's second place winner, will receive $1,000.  She is a senior at SOU,  working on a BS degree with plans to become a Social Worker.  She wants to help those who are victims of domestic violence and/or who have overcome drug addictions. She is the single mother of 3 children and lives in Eagle Point.  Kristin has overcome many difficulties in her life, and wants to help others when she completes her degree.

Sharon E. Bahr, Starlight's first place winner, is completing her BS in criminology and psychology.   Sharon is planning to go on for a Doctorate in psychology to eventually work with youth in the criminal justice system.  She is a CASA and has mediation certification.  She also has completed training to work at Dunn House.   Sharon, a single mom with one child, lives in Kerby, and has overcome many difficulties in her life. She has also won academic awards. She will receive  $1,000 award.

Connie L. Statchwick, SI-Starlight's second place winner, will also receive $1,000 award.  A student at SOU, working on an MBA, Connie is the single mother supporting 2 daughters and lives in Eagle Point.  Having overcome great hardships, she is determined to show her children "that people can do anything they put their minds to!"

SI River Valley (Grants Pass)  awarded $1,000 to Karen Suggs who is studying Nursing in the Moving On Program at RCC in Grants Pass.

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The 6 Rogue Valley Soroptimist clubs, from Ashland to Grants Pass, will be awarding $11,500 through their Women's Opportunity Awards (WOA) to 10 women heads-of-household, who are attending either Rogue Community College (RCC) or Southern Oregon University (SOU). Some of these women may receive additional grants from the Northwest Region or Federation level of Soroptimist International.

Since 1972, the WOA has been a signature program of Soroptimist Clubs throughout the Americas, resulting in cash grants for women to improve their employment status by gaining additional education and skills. The program is designed to assist women who provide the primary financial support for their families.  Most of women who receive awards have overcome the obstacles of domestic violence, drug abuse, or other hardships to better their lives through education. Winners may use the award to offset any costs associated with their higher education including books, childcare and transportation.

In 2008, 1,120 women received awards totaling more than $3.1 million dollars throughout the SIA Federation.