NEWS RELEASE
CFUW ORILLIA
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CFUW Orillia is pleased to announce its first meeting of the 2024-2025 year, featuring three speakers who have all been awarded scholarships through the CFUW Orillia Scholarship Program. The event will take place on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at Creative Nomad Studios and will mark the beginning of another exciting year of learning, networking, and community engagement.
This meeting will spotlight how the scholarships which are provided by CFUW Orillia impact the lives of student’s education and chosen career paths. Members will have the opportunity to hear the stories, experiences, and aspirations of these scholarship recipients.
Featured Speakers:
Lillian Ouellette, a Grade 12 student at Patrick Fogarty Secondary School, received a special award to attend SHAD, a prestigious summer program focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C. Typically open to students in Grades 10 and 11, Lillian will share how her experience at SHAD is shaping her future goals.
Venita Wilson, a single mother of two, applied for a scholarship through the Learning Centre as a Mature Student. Reflecting on her journey, she says, “From a young age, I realized that where I come from does not determine where I am going.” Currently finishing her first year of college and completing her high school diploma online, Venita plans to apply for the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. She will be speaking about the importance of investing in women and single mothers like herself, highlighting how access to higher education can positively impact both children and society.
Years ago, Nicky Locker and her two sisters were grateful recipients of the CFUW Orillia Scholarship. Today, Nicky serves as the Director of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning at Lakehead University. Following in her mother's footsteps, Nicky’s daughter, Grace, recently received the same CFUW Orillia Scholarship. Nicky will speak about the Humanities 101 Program at Lakehead University and about the impact of the scholarships her family has received from CFUW Orillia.
CFUW Orillia’s scholarship program has a long-standing history of supporting local Orillia women in their academic endeavors. Over the years, these scholarships have enabled many to access opportunities that might have otherwise been out of reach. Since 1974 CFUW Orillia has awarded $441,975 in scholarships to 779 young women.
“We are excited to begin our year with such an inspiring event,” said Heather Lewis, President of CFUW Orillia. “The stories shared by our scholarship recipients demonstrate the impact of our scholarships and the importance of supporting women in their pursuit of higher education.”
CFUW Orillia offers amazing social connections, lifelong learning opportunities, a commitment to advocacy, new friendships, and is dedicated to promoting education. CFUW Orillia has a membership of 110+ women and is a dynamic organization that welcomes all women who share our core beliefs of education, advocacy, social justice and equality. For more information check out our website www.cfuworillia.org.
If you are interested in joining CFUW Orillia or coming to the meeting as a guest, please send an email to [email protected].
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