Palm Beach Gardens, FL – Catherine Brown from Errol, NH and Scharolyn Hall from Richmond, VA have been awarded 2015 Women On Par Scholarships from the EWGA (Executive Women’s Golf Association) Foundation.
Now in its seventh year, this scholarship program provides financial support to women 30 years of age and older who want to begin or complete their undergraduate education to get ‘on par’ with their peers.
Brown and Hall were awarded the scholarships based on need and their remarkable stories of perseverance and determination to further their education. Both women are pursuing degrees in the culinary arts and were thrilled to learn that the EWGA Foundation is helping to make their dreams a reality.
Catherine Brown served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1987 to 1992. After military life, she stayed home to raise her young family. Since 2009, she has been a self-employed small-scale farmer, learning organic growing practices and growing many rare, heirloom and heritage varieties of small fruits, vegetables and herbs. Hurricane Irene wiped out her crops in 2011 and the bitter winter of 2013-14 presented another natural disaster and financial setback for her to overcome.
Her concern for the quality of local produce available in her community inspired her to return to school to formalize her many years of experience as a home cook and market gardener. Her long term goal is to open a commercial kitchen specializing in local, organic meals for individuals with specific dietary considerations such as food allergies, diabetics and those living with or recovering from severe illness.
With a dual major in Baking & Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts at White Mountains Community College, Brown will graduate with an Associate of Science degree in May 2016. She then plans to transfer to Kansas State University’s Global Campus to complete online her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition/Dietetics.
“I am so grateful to have the financial support of the EWGA Foundation, ” says Brown. “This scholarship means I will be able to earn my associate degree and continue to pursue my education and career aspirations to nourish my community through the power of food.”
Scharolyn Hall is a single mother who grew up in Queens, NY where baking or pastry arts were never in her list of goals. When she was laid off because of budget cuts almost three years ago, she had a hard time finding work. At the same time, she was struggling to break free from a physically and mentally abusive relationship. One day she mustered up enough energy to leave for good.
Her culinary journey began when a parent of another student at her son’s school inquired about her baked goods. Her cupcakes were so beautiful that the other parents were convinced they had been made by a professional bakery. Seeing the potential, she started baking to create extra income. Baking everything from cake pops to cupcakes, breads and cookies, Hall would pack up her goodies and give them away with her business cards. It wasn’t until she was approached to make a wedding cake that she felt intimidated and in need of formal training to perfect her craft.
In January 2015, Hall enrolled in Stratford University’s Baking/Pastry Arts and Hospitality Undergraduate Program. She plans on obtaining her Associate and Bachelor’s degree within the next three years, with the goal to open her own custom cakery.
“Being chosen for a Women on Par Scholarship gives me an immense sense of support from a group of women who believe that I am capable and equipped to reach every goal I have set for myself,” says Hall. ” Thank EWGA and the EWGA Foundation!”
To make a contribution to the EWGA Foundation’s Women On Par scholarship fund contact the Foundation at (561) 691-0096 x 12 or visit www.ewgafoundation.com to donate online.
About the EWGA Foundation
Established in 2003 as the charitable arm of the EWGA, the mission of the EWGA Foundation is to develop and fund education and leadership programs for women of all ages. The Women On Par Scholarship Program is at the core of the Foundation’s vision of enriching women’s lives through the game of golf.
The award winning EWGA association is responsible for connecting more than 100,000 working and professional women who share a passion for cultivating relationships and enjoying the game of golf with chapters in nearly every U.S. major market. Offering a wide range of affordable organized golf activities and educational programs, the EWGA has been driving social and networking opportunities for women through the game of golf since 1991. For more information about the EWGA and its membership, visit www.ewga.com
Contact:
angie_niehoff@ewga.com
561-868-0297
