BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has awarded four college scholarships of $1,000 each to Windham County students: three to high school graduates and one to a mature woman continuing work towards college degree.
Suzanne Edwards of Townshend graduated from Leland & Gray Union High School and plans to study art and computer design at Delaware College of Art and Design in Wilmington, Del.
At LGUHS, she was active with Big Sisters/Big Brothers and worked at Grace Cottage Hospital while managing the girls' varsity soccer team and being involved in theatre productions.
Erin LeBlanc of Brattleboro graduated from Brattleboro Union High School. She was involved in sports throughout her four years at BUHS as captain of the girls' basketball team as well as playing soccer and lacrosse.
As a freshman, she went with her youth group to help in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She is planning to study health science at Castleton State College and hopes to go on to specialize in physical therapy.
Helen Suntag of Brattleboro, also a BUHS graduate, has been accepted at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. She worked at a store in town and mentored Girl Scouts at a horse farm. She was active in CLEA (Civic Leadership Education and Action), which works toward fair trade and fair wages for world workers. Her interests in college will be psychology and developing countries.
Saryn Lauzon of Brattleboro has been a veterinarian's assistant and is a certified Reiki practitioner. She has attended Community College of Vermont and will continue working towards a degree in nursing at Vermont Technical College.
Mary Hawkes, AAUW president, chaired the scholarship committee. Money for scholarships comes from profits from the annual Book Sale in August and a hospitality day at the Welcome Center.
AAUW is a national organization advocating education for women, equal payand equal rights. For information on the Brattleboro branch, contact Vivian Prunier at 802-387-5875 or Vivian.prunier@gmail.com.