AAUW scholarship winners

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The American Association of University Women/University Women’s Foundation of Jefferson County has announced the winners of its 2023 scholarships.

The 2023 women scholars are Haley Morrison, Aria Turney, and Megan Bland.

The trio, along with 29 other women and girls from East Jefferson County, were celebrated at the University Womens’ Foundation (UWF) Scholars Recognition Ceremony on May 13.

At the ceremony, the foundation announced more than $97,000 in scholarships from endowed and non-endowed funds and scholars pursuing educational goals ranging from post-graduate degrees to middle school STEM education were honored.

Morrison is a 2020 graduate of Chimacum High School and graduated from Washington State University in spring with a degree in microbiology. She will now continue on at WSU in pursuit of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

She is the recipient of the 2023 Elmira K. Beyer Scholarship, and the $11,000 award will places her one step further in achieving her goal.

Other 2023 scholarship recipients are:

Megan Bland; Virginia Wolf Endowed Scholarship ($8,500). Bland is pursuing a degree in Doctor of Nursing Practice, with emphasis as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Pacific Lutheran University.

Aria Turney; Academic Excellence Scholarship ($7,225). Turney is currently working toward a master of science degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Gonzaga.

Tieryn Sian Purcell; Lisa T. Painter Endowed Scholarship ($6,000). Purcell plans to attend law school after graduating from Washington State University with a double major in Political Science and Philosophy, with an emphasis on Pre-Law.

Rachel Matthes; Constance Anna Pash Endowed Scholarship ($5,300). Matthes is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering and Forest Engineering at Oregon State University, hoping in the future to work in both rural and urban areas on heavy civil and construction projects or complete road layout for timber sales.

Ariane Danielle Daniel; Susie Pool Moses Endowed Scholarship ($4,400). Daniel, a native of the Philippines, is a first-generation college student and current full-time lab assistant/phlebotomist at Jefferson Healthcare. She is working to earn an associate’s degree in Nursing at Peninsula College.

Two new STEM scholarships were funded this year through a generous grant from the Cross Foundation:

Riley Ann Fukano; STEM Scholarship ($7,500). Fukano is studying for a degree in Geographic Information Systems at Cornell University, and hopes to dedicate some time after graduation to helping in post-disaster areas, ultimately returning to her home town of Port Townsend to work in GIS analysis and application development.

Ella Ashford; STEM Scholarship ($5,500). Ashford is attending Willamette University, with an emphasis on Environmental Science, and hopes to apply to a doctoral degree program after graduating.

Other scholarship winners:

Molly Dickson, Technical Career Endowed Scholarship ($5,000). Dickson, who grew up in a home without modern technology, has in mid-life discovered a knack for using computers, camera, and software. She is pursuing a degree in multi-media communications at Peninsula College and plans to become an e-book publisher.

Halie Jones; High School Scholarship ($4,000). Jones is a student at Port Townsend High School, and can use the scholarship to assist with the first year of college/university.

Natalie Long; High School Scholarship ($4,000). A student at Quilcene High School, Long will use the scholarship to assist with the first year of college/university.

Maria Powell; High School Scholarship ($4,000). Powell attends Chimacum High School and will use the scholarship to assist with the first year of college/university.

Each year, the foundation honors East Jefferson County girls with high school STEM awards of $100. These students are nominated by counselors and classroom teachers in the areas of science, math, and technology and are the top female student in the STEM area. Awards this year were given to Chloe Lampert, Lillian Morrison, and Elizabeth Storm of Port Townsend High School; Ashley Jones and MaKayla Robinson of Quilcene High School; and Madison Burgess, Robyn Weaver, and Julia Breitweg of Chimacum High School.

Eight middle school girls from local schools will be attending Tech Trek STEM Camp at Pacific Lutheran University this summer, thanks to a grant from the Cross Foundation.