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newlenoxpatriot.com NEWS
the New Lenox Patriot | June 28, 2018 | 5
Organization gives back toward educating young students, women
Megan Schuller
Freelance Reporter
The Lincoln-Way Area
Business Women’s Organization
held their annual
scholarship banquet on June
19 at Gatto’s Restaurant in
New Lenox to recognize
several young women who
are choosing to further their
education.
Seventeen scholarships totaling
$16,500 were awarded
and split between 14 high
school girls and three continuing
education women
from the Lincoln-Way area.
According to a spokesperson
for the event, it is the most
scholarship money ever given
away in the Club’s history.
LWABWO Vice President
Nancy Dye said that helping
young women further their
education, some of whom
might not otherwise be able
to afford college, means a lot
to the members of the organization.
“When you listen to these
young women, who are so
impressive, it’s worth all
the time and effort we put
into the rest of the year,”
Dye said. “To have them
come and tell their stories
and bring their families, it’s
very rewarding for us even
though we’re the ones giving
to them.”
The scholarship selection
committee presented
the women with a certificate
and a rose, after they had
the winners introduce themselves
and their plans for
college.
Lincoln-Way West graduate
Raquel Chavez plans to
attend Valparaiso University
in the fall. Chavez said
that winning the scholarship
from LWABWO was extra
special for her since she
hopes to do the same kind of
work after she receives her
degree.
The 17 women (14 recent graduates and three continuing education students) who
received a scholarship from the Lincoln-Way Area Business Women’s Organization pose
for a picture June 19 during the scholarship dinner at Gatto’s in New Lenox. Photos by
Julie McMann/22nd Century Media
Continuing education
Elizabeth DeVito -
New Lenox resident,
Milwaukee School of
Engineering
Whitney Frieling -
Mokena resident,
University of St. Francis
Patrice Foster - New
Lenox resident, Joliet
Junior College
“This scholarship is my
favorite one I applied for,”
Chavez said. “The whole organization
is about women
supporting other women and
their education. That’s the
field I want to go into with
women’s rights and women’s
education. That’s basically
what I want to do with
my life: support the growth
of other women’s education.”
The scholarship banquet
has been held since the mid
1990’s, when the club shifted
its focus on scholarships
for women and girls.
Kathy Klevorn said the
local organization giving
back to its youth within the
LWABWO scholarships recipients
Sara Schelinski - Lincoln- Gianna Ruiz - Lincoln-Way
Way Central, Joliet Junior Central, Bradley University
College
Grace Klevorn - Lincoln-
Jessica Bowers - Lincoln- Way Central, University of
Way Central, Dominican Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University
Mikaya Gardener- Lincoln-
Erin Kay - Iowa State Way East, Fordham
University
University
Alyssa McDonald - Julia Signorelli - Lincoln-
Lincoln-Way Central, Way Central, University
Western Michigan of South Carolina at
Jaclyn Dolan - Lincoln- Columbia
Way West, University of Molly Schuringa - Lincoln-
Missouri
Way Central, Loyola
Raquel Chavez - Lincoln- University
Way west, Valparaiso Mary Zopf - Lincoln-Way
University
Central, DePaul University
Kayla Jandek - Lincoln- Alexia Kubas - Lincoln-
Way West, Eastern Illinois Way East, University of
University
Arizona
community gives the young
women successful people to
look up to.
“It’s a big advantage for
our students to have this
group in our community
because these women are
role models, as well,” Kathy
said. “They come together
and provide opportunities
for our girls going forward,”
Kathy said.
Her daughter, Grace
Klevorn, a recent Lincoln-
Way Central graduate and
future University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign student,
plans to go into business in
college.
“It’s a male-dominated
Lincoln-Way Central alumnus Mary Zopf is greeted by
LWABWO members after receiving her certificate.
Continuing education student Elizabeth DeVito, of New
Lenox, speaks to the audience.
LWABWO Board Member Judy Niemann (left to right),
Scholarship Committee Chairperson Cheryl Colanto and
Betty Dunn take a break from dinner to pose from a picture.
industry, and it’s very helpful
to get this monetary gift
to further my education so I
can make a difference in the
business world,” Grace said.
The organization provided
$1,000 to girls graduating
high school who are going on
to a four-year school and to
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