The Sweet Home Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO) Chapter FA announced the award of scholarships and grants to the following recipients: Kailey James, Katrina Reynolds, Ashley Scott, Lisa Shields and Graci Zanona. The scholarships and grants will be used to complete their chosen degrees.
“P.E.O. exists to be a source of encouragement and support for women to realize their potential in whatever worthwhile endeavor they choose,” member Rose Peda said. “True to the mission of promoting educational opportunities for women, education continues to be the primary philanthropy of the P.E.O. sisterhood”.
To raise funds for future scholarships, PEO Chapter FA will be selling wreaths and poinsettias this season, and will host a trunk sale next spring. To order wreaths and poinsettias, contact Rose Peda at 541.680.2220 or email [email protected].
Kailey James is in her third year of undergraduate study as a sociology major and is preparing to take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). She is on track to graduate from Willamette University’s 3/3 law program within the next three and a half years. She said she chose to pursue the study of law because of its capacity to create direct and effective change within the legal system. Due to the proximity of her school, James is one of two interns for Willamette’s Resilience Project which provides resources and support to the children of incarcerated parents.
Once she receives her law degree, James would like to practice family law and eventually establish her own practice in Oregon while continuing to do educational and advocacy-based work within prisons.
Katrina Reynolds earned two associate degrees from Linn-Benton Community College and is on the cusp of finishing her bachelors degree in kinesiology at Oregon State University this year. She plans to attend Western University of Health Sciences to earn her doctorate in osteopathic medicine. Reynolds said her current plan is to specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation and help serve those around her with the utmost care and attention. She hopes to bring leadership and relationships to the medical field.in any way she can.
Angela Scott previously worked at the Corvallis Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse. She recently began meeting clients as a counseling student under supervision. Scott will continue seeing clients while finishing her education, and she hopes to graduate with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling next December. After graduation, she will become a registered associate with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists where she will work for the next two years acquiring hours to obtain full licensure.
Scott said her ambition is to be a competent licensed professional counselor who assists people in achieving their goals for wellness.
Lisa Shields is currently working at Lebanon Community Hospital as a CNA in the acute care unit. She will be starting her second year of nursing school and will have her fall clinicals at Peace Health Riverbend. Upon graduation in June 2024, Shields hopes to begin her registered nursing career in the emergency department at Lebanon Hospital.
Graci Zanona is currently in her junior year at Corban University. This is her second semester at this university after transferring from Linn-Benton Community College. She is majoring in counseling and psychology with a child and family concentration. Her goal is to go into medical social work when she finishes her degree in the Spring of 2025.