Eleven young women just received a boost to their college education with $28,000 worth of scholarships from the Woman’s Club of Englewood. These scholarship recipients are bright stars with promising futures.
They are graduates of Dwight Morrow High School and currently enrolled in several colleges, including Vassar, Penn State and Howard University. All are on track towards distinguished careers.
Many of the scholars are already planning to pay it forward, such as Imani Williams, who is finishing her senior year as a communication and public health major.
“I plan to get my master’s degree with a focus on health policy and management and eventually start my own nonprofit organization to help people in underprivileged communities,” Williams said. “This scholarship has helped me tremendously toward achieving my goals.”
On Jan. 3, the Woman’s Club of Englewood, one of Bergen County’s oldest and most esteemed philanthropic groups, presented the 2019 scholars with New Jersey State Legislature Commendation Citations at a reception in the club’s historic carriage house on Brinckerhoff Court.
The event was attended by over 75 people, including many prominent leaders and elected officials, such as state Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Mayor Michael Wildes, Judge Sandra Robinson, Englewood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Rauscher and members (past and present) of the Englewood School Board.
The reception began with a welcome by President Susan Eastham followed by a speech by Marie Sullivan from the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Next, Vice President Beverly Rhinehart gave a history of the Woman’s Club of Englewood beginning with its illustrious founders over 120 years ago, and proudly announced that the club is currently supporting over 22 charities and selected state initiatives.
The club’s Philanthropy Chair, Nancy Ferer, introduced the scholarship donors as well as the guest speaker, Hon. Ronny Jo Siegal, chair of the Women’s Rights Information Center, a former Alpine councilwoman and a member of the law firm Pashman, Stein, Walder and Hayden in Hackensack.
Siegal, a former judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, gave an inspiring talk about her challenging academic and career trajectory in the traditionally male dominated field of law.
To begin the award ceremony, Education Chair Elizabeth Whitney and Gladys Ramos asked nine of the scholarship recipients to come to the stage to receive their New Jersey State Legislature Citations presented by Huttle and Wildes.
Whitney praised the young women for their dedication to academic excellence and their passion to the community.
Eastham then read a beautiful letter from scholar Yume Murphy, who had already begun her spring semester at Vassar and could not attend the reception.
Scholar Gabrielle Rodriguez was present but unable to come to the podium because she had a severely injured leg.
Eastham explained, “Gabrielle is literally on her way to the hospital, but she is so passionate about this program that she insisted on stopping in. So, Rodriguez was carried into the carriage house by her parents and she proudly accepted her citation while sitting in a chair, as Huttle and Wildes knelt down to congratulate her.”
Huttle then gave an eloquent speech about the importance of promoting women in politics as well as all other arenas.
“I am always overwhelmed when I come here,” she began. “When I see the women here today, I can tell you that the future is in good hands.”
Huttle went on to repeat a favorite quote by Hillary Clinton, that talent is universal but opportunity is not.
“I thank the Woman’s Club every year for providing that opportunity,” said Huttle. “I am humbled to be here, because this generation is smarter, wiser and more educated, as we continue to pay it forward.”
Wildes also expressed great admiration for the Woman’s Club of Englewood and its scholarship program.
“The Woman’s Club of Englewood was once home to the first mayor of Englewood,” Wildes said. “When it comes to empowering young women, the club carries on its tradition of service to the community. It has earned its reputation now as more than just a gathering place, as it leads a new generation by example, funding scholarships and many important philanthropic projects.”
After the award ceremony, world renowned cellist Ani Kalayjian performed for the audience followed by a sumptuous buffet lunch. Kalayjian is the Woman’s Club’s Music Department co-chair and has initiated a series titled “Carriage House Concerts.” She is also a music director at the Elisabeth Morrow School.
The scholarship program has grown over the years with the creation of donor named scholarships 13 years ago. In the 2018-2019 academic year, the club gave out 12 named scholarships with a total value of $31,000, including the Woman’s Club of Englewood Centennial Scholarship in celebration of its 100th anniversary.
In 2005, the club decided to host a scholarship reception to bring together both the scholarship donors and the recipients. That tradition has continued every January, before the students return to their respective college or nursing programs.
“In keeping with our tenet of being ‘exclusively charitable and educational,’ the members of the Woman’s Club of Englewood are very proud of their long legacy of helping to educate the next generation,” said President Susan Eastham.
The 2019 scholarship recipients are:
• Yume Murphy, Farris Family Scholarship, attending Vassar College.
• Gabrielle Rodriguez, Farris Family Scholarship, attending Penn State University;
• Tatiana Garrison, Woman’s Club of Englewood Scholarship, attending Howard University;
• Natalie Adam, Lt. David Van Alstyne III Scholarship, attending Rutgers University;
• Imani Williams, Dr. Paul Schoen Scholarship, attending East Carolina University;
• Debbie Adam, Nazarian Family Scholarship, attending University of Maryland;
• Christie Aubourg, Hansen Family Scholarship, attending Rutgers University;
• Virginia Ingram, Sandra & David Bishop Scholarship, attending William Paterson University;
• Brenda Torres, Sandra & David Bishop Scholarship, attending William Paterson University;
• Hyunah Melanie Kim, Sandra & David Bishop Scholarship, attending William Paterson University;
• Theresa Lee, Woman’s Club of Englewood Nursing Scholarship, attending William Paterson University.