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 Women Helping Women Fund is pleased to offer the Vivian Winston Scholarship to students of Community Colleges of Spokane and Eastern Washington University.
The scholarship, named in honor of one of Women Helping Women Fund's founders (pictured with past recipient Alicia Western and daughter) is available to mothers who reside in Spokane County. Its purpose is to remove barriers to education by providing financial assistance for child care and other expenses.
HISTORY
Vivian Winston was one of six Women Helping Women Fund (WHWF) founders and worked throughout her life to remove barriers for women and children. In addition to WHWF, Vivian was the co-founder of Planned Parenthood of Spokane and the first women president of United Way of Spokane County. The recipient of many awards for her community service, she also served on the Higher Education Coordinating Board, Washington Library Board, Washington Humanities Commission, and the League of Women Voters. Vivian remained a loyal advocate for WHWF until her death in 2009 at the age of 97.
THE SCHOLARSHIP
In 2006, the WHWF Vivian Winston Scholarship program was established to assist students and allow them to improve their lives, the lives of their children and their community. When Vivian learned that a scholarship would be named in her honor, she insisted that the scholarship provide enough money to allow the recipient to pay not just for her classes, but also for child care. This confirmed that the scholarship was not just about getting an education, but also overcoming challenges that could prevent a young mother from achieving her academic goals.
The Vivian Winston Scholarship, first awarded in the spring of 2007, is available to Eastern Washington University and the Community Colleges of Spokane students based on the status of the two institutions as child care providers.
In 2008 the WHWF Board of Directors adopted a motion recommended by the VWS committee to assume the administration of the scholarship. The goal was to strengthen and transition scholarship donation procurement, overview and administration. The scholarship committee, consisting of WHWF board and community members, assists with promotion, selection, review and other requirements associated with administration of the scholarship.
2011-12 RECIPIENTS
Angela Burks is a second year recipient of the Vivian Winston Scholarship. A single mother of three children, she is a full time student at Eastern Washington University pursuing multiple majors. “The Vivian Winston scholarship is meaningful to me because when I read what the scholarship was about and the people it would help, I felt like it was describing me. I thank Women Helping Women, its programs and partners for providing me the comfort of knowing that my children are in a safe place while I am away from them to pursue my degree, and for lifting the financial burden of childcare.”
Mayra Villalobos is the single mother of a young son and is also a full time student at Eastern Washington University majoring in History. “I am honored to be selected for this scholarship because it will not only help me financially, but it will purposely help me be more focused in my studies. The scholarship will also help me relieve some stress as a single mother because I will be able to spend more time with my son. This award represents for me the recognition of Vivian Winston who was a hard working mother and an ambitious woman.”
Ekaterina Vatulko is the mother of two children and a full time student at Spokane Community College. “My parents brought me to the United States to give me a chance at a life I choose, but to have this life, I need an education. The Vivian Winston scholarship will help me reach my goal of completing the Nursing Program so that I can become a Registered Nurse and then further my children's future as well. It's amazing that here in this country you really can be what you want to be and just like my parents wanted me to have the freedom to choose, I want this same freedom for my children.”
Click to access the application.
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