12 Lamorinda Young Women Receive Scholarships from local AAUW

    The Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette (OML) branch of the American Association of University Women on April 14 presented 12 Lamorinda women with Tech Trek camp scholarships, college scholarships, and scholarships to the AAUW National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). 
    Seven young women won scholarships to attend Tech Trek Camp Hopper at Stanford University in July. They are Zoe Seaman and Michelle Shen from Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, Nicole Hui and Angela Kohr from Orinda Intermediate School, and Eden Hall, Bella Stratford, Madeleine Termondt from Stanley Middle School.
    Tech Trek scholarship winners impressed the April Awards Ceremony attendees with presentations describing their love of science and math and their future goals. The girls were chosen after a rigorous process of being nominated by their teachers, completing an application, and being interviewed by a team of three AAUW-OML members.
    In addition, three graduating seniors won scholarships for demonstrating academic excellence and community service. The senior girls were chosen after completing an application which included an essay and letters of recommendation, followed by an interview with members of the scholarship committee. 
    Scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded to Jennifer Giron from Miramonte, Madeleine Martin from Acalanes, and Genie Lee from Campolindo. 
    The awardees contributed to their school community by participating as editor of the school magazine; creating THINK TWICE, a program on the danger of drunk and distracted driving; and playing first flute in the symphony and pep bands. Locally they served in 4-H, Toys for Tots, Xenaphon Therapeutic Riding, and the Contra Costa County Libraries in Moraga and Orinda.
    Alondra Mendoza and Samantha Nieves from Saint Mary’s College were awarded $1,200 scholarships to the NCCWSL conference at the University of Maryland, College Park.  This four-day conference focuses on today’s most pressing issues and developing the attendees’ leadership skills. Young women learn how to create a meaningful impact on campus and how to mobilize their communities. They will also receive training on how to optimize opportunities for personal and professional success after graduation.
    As sophomores at Saint Mary’s College Mendoza and Nieves have participated in the Gael Sisterhood, the Center for Women and Gender Equity, and the High Potential Student Advisory Board.