Three Rogue Valley Women were recently notified that they will be awarded Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards (WOA) from the Regional level of Soroptimist. Rogue Valley Soroptimists from local clubs attended the Northwestern Regional Soroptimist Convention in Missoula, Montana from April 24 to April 26, 2009, and picked up the $3,000 checks for our local winners -- Sandra M. Lawyer, 38, of Medford (SI/Ashland winner), Crystal L. Eddlemon, 31, of Medford (Rogue Valley Sunrise Club winner) and Anna Bernstein, 29, of Grants Pass (SI/River Valley Club winner). These women were three of the ten women who won the local Soroptimist club WOA Awards for this year.
Sandra M. Lawyer, a student at Rogue Community College working on her AAOT with an emphasis in Registered Nursing, is the Ashland Club’s first place winner. Sandra is the mother of five children and works as a Licensed Practical Nurse, however she wants to continue to better her situation and become a Registered Nurse. Sandra lives in Medford. She initially received $2,000 from the SI/Ashland club as their winner.
The first place winner for SI/Rogue Valley Sunrise is Crystal L. Eddlemon, who lives Medford. She was awarded $2,000 initially by the RV Sunrise club. Crystal is attending Rogue Community College, where she is completing her prerequisites to allow her to go on to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. She hopes to be a strong advocate for women in domestic violence and alcohol abusive situations. Crystal is a single mom and has two children.
Anna T. Bernstein is a student at Southern Oregon University working on her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services to eventually help at-risk and low income children. Anna currently works as a Homeless Youth Advocate for LIFT Street Youth Services in Grants Pass, and believes her degree will advance her career and increase her effectiveness with the youth she serves. She is a single parent with a young son and lives in Grants Pass. She received an initial $1,000 first place award from SI/River Valley.
The six Rogue Valley Soroptimist Clubs awarded a total of $ 12,000 to 10 local women, who are heads of household, through their Women’s Opportunity Awards (WOA). The Soroptimist Northwestern Region is giving an additional $35,000 dollars to winners from Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana and Northern Idaho. The overall Northwestern Regional winner will go on to compete for $10,000 dollars and a new computer at the Federation level.
Many of the women, who receive these awards, have overcome obstacles of domestic violence and/or drug abuse in their families or have faced other hardships. They have gone on to better their lives through education. The Women’s Opportunity Award program gives monetary grants to 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 of their families. Winners may use the award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education – including books, childcare, and transportation.
Crystal L. Eddlemon
Anna T. Bernstein
SI-Ashland
Sandra M. Lawyer, a student at Rogue Community College working on her AAOT with an emphasis in Registered Nursing, is the Ashland Club’s first place winner. Sandra is the mother of five children and works as an Licensed Practical Nurse. However she wants to continue to better her situation and become a Registered Nurse. Sandra, who lives in Medford, will receive $2,000 from the Ashland club.
Soroptimist Northwest Region has awarded Sandra an additional $3,000 WOA award. Congratulations Sandra!
Jessica Smithson, a student at Rogue Community College working on a transfer degree to earn a degree in Nursing was awarded a $1,500 WOA. Jessica's goal is to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and become a registered neonatal nurse. She has a three year old daughter and lives in Grants Pass.
SI-Medford (noon meeting club)
Marie A. Hogan will receive a $1,000 WOA. Marie is attending Rogue Community College, working on her Associate of Science Degree, which will allow her to transfer the Southern Oregon University to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and later get a Master’s in Social Work. She is very excited about a career as a Personal Counselor, and eventually, wants to be a Social Worker in a Hospice. She was forced to make a career change through a job layoff, but returning to school has allowed her to follow her dreams. She is a single mom of two teenagers, and lives in Grants Pass.
Amy Marie Ruiz, who is enrolled at Rogue Community College working on a transfer degree to Southern Oregon University to get Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education, was awarded a $500 WOA. Amy wants to become a Special Education Teacher. She says, “I have a special place in my heart and a great love for challenged children.” She is a single mom with a young son.
SI-Rogue Valley Sunrise (Medford morning club)
Crystal L. Eddlemon, who lives Medford, was awarded a $2,000 WOA. Crystal is attending Rogue Community College where she is completing her prerequisites for a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. She hopes to be a strong advocate for women in domestic violence and alcohol abusive situations. Crystal is a single mom and has two children.
Soroptimist Northwest Region has awarded Crystal an additional $3,000 WOA award. Congratulations Sandra!
Rebecca J. Madden will receive a $1,000 WOA. She is a student at Rogue Community College where she is working on both a Juvenile Corrections Certificate, which she will receive in June, 2009, and an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. She is the mother of three children and lives in Grants Pass. Rebecca has overcome many difficulties in her life, and “hopes to show incarcerated teens how they can better their future.” She wants to work with teens that the majority of society has given up on.
SI-Rogue Starlight (Evening Medford Club)
Rachel M. Burnett, a student at Rogue Community College, is completing the requirements that will allow her to get an Associate of Arts degree in Art, so that she can pursue both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Art and teach at the college level. Rachel is a single mom with two children who lives in Medford and has overcome many difficulties in her life. She will receive a $1,000 WOA.
Rachel L. DeRose will also receive a $1,000 WOA award. Rachel is a student at Rogue Community College, working on an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. She hopes to, eventually, transfer to Southern Oregon University and get a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice with an emphasis on Forensics. She may go to law school or work in law enforcement, forensics, academic research, parole and probations or even corrections. Rachel is the single mother supporting two children and lives in Medford. She spent over twenty years serving her country in various aspects of the military.
SI-North Valley (Central Point)_______________ SI-River Valley (Grants Pass)
Sherrylee W. Griffith is a student at Southern Oregon University, working on a degree in Human Services. She hopes to become a counselor or juvenile probation officer. She provides day care from her home and loves children of all ages. A single mom with two children, she lives in Medford. She will receive a $750 WOA to continue working on her life long dream.
Anna T. Bernstein, a student at Southern Oregon University working on her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services, has been awarded $1,000 WOA. She hopes to help at-risk and low income children. Anna currently works as a Homeless Youth Advocate for LIFT Street Youth Services in Grants Pass, and believes her degree will advance her career and increase her effectiveness with the youth she serves. She is a single parent with a young son and lives in Grants Pass.
Mail Tribune, Feb 8, 2009
WOMEN'S OPPORTUNITY AWARD AIDS LOCAL WOMEN WITH HIGHER EDUCATION COSTS The Women’s Opportunity Awards program is Soroptimist’s major service project. The awards improve the lives of women by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects. Each year, Soroptimist clubs in 19 countries and territories assist women in overcoming personal difficulties and improving their lives through education and skills training. The women, who provide the primary source of financial support for their families, may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, including books, childcare and transportation. Club recipients become eligible for additional cash awards at other levels of the organization, including three $10,000 finalist awards. Many Women’s Opportunity Award recipients have overcome enormous obstacles in their quest for a better life, including poverty, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse. Each year, more than $800,000 is disbursed through awards at various levels of the organization to help women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. Since the Women’s Opportunity Awards program began in 1972, it is estimated that $15 million has been disbursed and more than 20,000 women have been assisted. In 2003, The Women’s Opportunity Awards program received the Award of Excellence from the American Society of Association Executives’ Associations Advance America program.
These Northwestern Region 2007 Women's Opportunity Award recipients are both examples of how Soroptimist clubs support their community.
Applications for the 2008 Women's Opportunity Awards will be available October 1, 2007 and must be submitted by December 1, 2007. Applications can be found at SOU (Scholarship Coordinator and Women's Studies Department), RCC (Medford Campus - Bright Futures, Financial Aid Advisors; Grants Pass Campus - Enrollment Services, Trio Program, Moving On Program and the Counseling Department for both campuses), Community Works, Jackson County Parole and Probation Departments, Josephine County Probation,and Vocational Rehabilition for both Jackson and Josephone Countys. For additional information, please contact Louise Homes at 541-779-0855.
2007 Women's Opportunity Award recipent Jo Trumbo was awarded $5,000. Jo Trumbo overcame a devastating accident and personal tragedy. Life was smooth until a horsing acident left her in a coma for two months. Upon awakening, Jo had suffered severe memory loss and hadto relearn many of the day to day skills we all take for granted. To make matters more diffucult, her husband of 22 years descended into downward spiral of drug, gambling and alcohol abuse. Fearful for her family, Jo left this abusive situation, taking her children with her.
2007 Women's Opportunity Award Recipient Cyndi Noyse was awarded $1,000. After 17 years of marriage, Cyndi found herself a displaced homemaker. She made the decision to return to school. With financial aid covering the full cost of tuition, she enrolled at Rogue Community College in September 2005, where her journey to a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services had begun. This degree in Human Services will allow her to continue in the fields she has worked in while helping children and families to be the best they can be, by providing connections to services, counseling, and support. She has been accepted to Southern Oregon University for the Fall 2007 semester.
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WOA
The six Rogue Valley Soroptimist clubs awarded a total of $12,000 dollars through their Women’s Opportunity Awards (WOA) to 10 women heads of household who are working on educational programs at Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University. Most of women who receive awards have overcome the obstacles of domestic violence and/or drug abuse in their families or other hardships to go on to try better their lives through education.
Since 1972, WOA has been a signature program of Soroptimist Clubs throughout the America’s Federation. WOA includes 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. In 2008, 1,120 women received awards totaling more than $3.1 million dollars throughout the SIA Federation.
Winners may use the award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education – including books, childcare and transportation. Local club first place winners go on to compete for additional awards at higher levels of the Soroptimist organization.
Improving the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world.
