Grants and Scholarships
2010 Current Recipients
Pictured left to right: Elizabeth Crossen, Shanna Servant, Joan Robbins, and Alison Franklin.
The Grants and Scholarships Committee is pleased to announce our scholarship recipients for 2010-2011. The recipient of the Evelyn Chostner Marboe Scholarship is Joan Ribbons, while the Simmons-Jansma Project Renew Grant is to be awarded to Elizabeth Crossen. Alison Franklin and Shanna Servant are the AAUW State College Branch award recipients. Following are brief biographies of these amazing women.
Joan Ribbons - Evelyn Chostner Marboe Scholarship
Joan Ribbons suspended her career as a full-time RN in 1980 to raise her four children; she became a single parent in 1994. With her children almost completely independent, she wishes to resume her career, but finds her diploma RN education limiting. She will be pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing and then probably a master’s degree. As a nurse she learned that stress is a major cause of poor health and quality of life, so would like to work in community health, teaching families and individuals to incorporate leisure activities into their lives, eventually improving their health. Joan is especially interested in working with military families and people with disabilities. She was not idle during her period of child-raising, however. She continued to work in nursing in whatever community she found herself and volunteered extensively in each community. One of her professors writes: “I admire Joan’s perseverance in returning to school after such a long layoff, but even more, I admire her dedication to public service and public health. Without question, Joan will make the most of an AAUW grant – and return the benefits of her education to the community.” Joan will receive the Evelyn Chostner Marboe AAUW–State College Branch Scholarship.
Elizabeth Crossen - Simmons-Jansma Project Renew Grant
Elizabeth Crossen is the recipient of the Simmons-Jansma Project Renew Grant. As the young mother of two young sons, she is pursuing a double major in women’s studies and sociology and hopes to continue her education, eventually serving the needs of underprivileged women and children and LGBT youth. Becoming pregnant as a teen, she withdrew from high school and earned her GED. Feeling isolated from her peers, Liz organized two groups for parents: a local-foods potluck group and an attachment-parenting group. She became interested in women’s healthcare, particularly midwifery. After attending a workshop on midwifery apprenticeship programs, she attended and assisted in more than 50 births as the assistant of a local midwife. She spoke to Penn State classes on homebirth and her role as a midwife’s assistant. She did all this as a volunteer until the birth of her second son, and continues even today to speak to Penn State classes. When her relationship with the boy’s father disintegrated, she had to find work that paid. Lacking confidence, she did not consider attending college at first, but long hours, low pay, the encouragement of others, and a tradition in her family of strong, educated women finally made her take the step to begin courses at Penn State.
Alison Franklin and Shanna Servant - State College Branch AAUW Scholarship
Alison Franklin is pursuing a degree in Toxicology in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State. From the age of 15, she struggled with eating disorders. Upon graduation from high school she was determined to start over with her new life in college, but proved unable to handle the new stresses and slipped back into the old destructive pattern. Naturally her grades suffered and she withdrew, finally, in 2003. She married, received professional help for her disorder and is now the mother of two young daughters, who gave her a new focus and perspective on life. She volunteers at Schlow Library, the local Freecycle group, and PAWS animal shelter among others. With the strong support of her husband and her church, she overcame her emotional issues, became a successful part-time student and will return to full-time study in the fall of 2010. She explains her dedication to a meaningful long-term career in research: “I chose toxicology because I desire to make the world a safer place. Chemicals are now an integral part of almost every facet of life. For the wellbeing of life on this planet, we should know exactly how these chemicals affect humans, animals, and the environment.”
After attending Shippensburg University for two years, Shanna Servant became engaged to a longtime boyfriend, returned to State College, and began working at the Village at Penn State, eventually becoming a therapeutic recreational assistant. During a two-year period, she experienced the loss of her father and then her mother. It was during her mother’s illness that Shanna’s engagement was broken off and she gave birth to her son. After her mother’s death in 2008, Shanna no longer had the safety net that parents provide. Further, funeral and nursing home expenses had consumed the family’s assets. Realizing that she was the safety net for her son, she set out to give herself the means to provide for him in the future and enrolled at Penn State. One of her references offers this about Shanna: “Shanna is a shining example. She volunteers regularly, holds a steady job, is a single mom, does very well academically, and is a person of passion, commitment and integrity. She is motivated by serving others and making the world a better place.” Clearly, Shanna has distinguished herself in many ways as she pursues her degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the College of Health and Human Development
The scholarship recipients were honored at the State College Branch Scholarship Banquet held May 20, 2010 at Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center.
Nancy Weinreb, co-chair Grants and Scholarships