University Women’s Foundation announces scholarship winners

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Anya Callahan says she was raised in a “justice system-impacted family with an intergenerational history of substance-use disorders.”

Callahan’s life experience inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in social work at the University of Washington in Tacoma. She hopes to work in Jefferson County, serving the most vulnerable populations, including formerly incarcerated people and people impacted by substance-use disorders.

Callahan is now one step further toward her goal: She was awarded the University Women’s Foundation’s Elmira K. Beyer Endowed Scholarship at the organization’s recent Scholars Recognition Ceremony.

The Elmira K. Beyer Endowed Scholarship will provide Callahan with $11,000 for her continuing education.

At the foundation’s award ceremony May 14, Callahan and 23 other women and girls from east Jefferson County were awarded more than $83,000 in scholarships from the organization’s endowed and non-endowed funds.

Scholars pursuing educational goals ranging from post-graduate degrees to middle school STEM education were honored at the hybrid, in-person/Zoom meeting.

Additional 2022 scholarship recipients are:

Academic Endowed Scholarship based on Elmira K. Beyer criteria ($8,500): Megan Weller, a graduate of Quilcene High School and Central Washington University, will begin her first year at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in pursuit of her doctorate in veterinary medicine in August.

Lisa T. Painter Endowed Scholarship ($6,000): Lacey Bishop will begin her junior year at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, majoring in art history and minoring in sociology and criminal justice. She plans to become a professor of art history.

Academic Excellence Scholarship ($4,000): Megan Bland is pursuing her goal of becoming a doctor of nursing practice-prepared family nurse practitioner with a degree from Northwest Nazarene University. She then plans to work in a rural healthcare setting.

Academic Excellence Scholarship ($4,000): Leah Russell is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at Arizona State University, with hopes of one day working for the Washington State Department of Commerce and The Arc of Washington.

Academic Excellence Scholarship ($1,425): Melanie Bakin plans to dedicate her future career as a STEM-based engineer to alleviating human suffering and improving the quality of life for those in need, after finishing at the University of Washington.

Academic Excellence Scholarship ($1,250): Leianna Kunz will pursue a law degree from either the University of Oregon or Columbia University Law School with plans to establish more programs that emphasize safe and stable homes for children around the United States, advocate for juveniles within the American criminal justice system, and support families.

Constance Anna Pash Endowed Scholarship ($4,860): Rachel Matthes is pursuing a degree in civil engineering and forest engineering at Oregon State University, and hopes to work in both rural and urban areas on heavy civil and construction projects or complete road layout for timber sales.

Constance Anna Pash Endowed Scholarship ($1,000): Lily O’Shea is exploring a career in naturopathic medicine at Willamette University, with a focus on women’s health and reproductive justice.

Susie Pool Moses Scholarship ($2,500): Bethany McWilliams is pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. with a goal of taking occupational therapy out of sterile hospital and clinic settings and bringing it outdoors.

Environmental Scholarship ($3,000): Hailey Gallagher has been accepted to Oregon State University’s environmental science program. Her goal is to work toward mitigating climate change.

Technical Career Scholarship ($5,000): Kelly Grace is attending Peninsula College to become a licensed registered nurse.

Technical Career Scholarship ($3,948): Karynna Eichmann is attending Ashworth College online with the goal of becoming a licensed veterinary technician.

Technical Career Scholarship ($1,052): Olivia Nivison is attending the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding to become a certified associate of occupational studies in traditional wooden boat building.

High school scholarships, in the amount of $4,000 each, will assist Maya Dow of Port Townsend High School, Eryn Munn of Quilcene High School, and Akira Anderson of Chimacum High School with their first year of college/university.

Each year, the foundation honors east Jefferson County high school girls with STEM awards of $100 each.

Students are nominated by counselors and classroom teachers in the areas of science, math and technology as the top female student in each STEM area. Awards this year were given to Maya Dow, Aurin Asbell, and Emily Grant of Port Townsend High School; Eryn Munn, Sara Eldridge, and Anastasja Gossette of Quilcene High School; and Madison Burgess and Layla Franson of Chimacum High School.

Eight middle school girls from local schools will be attending Tech Trek STEM Camp this summer, due to a generous grant from the Cross Foundation.