Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. August 9, 2016 – Brenda Bertram from Fond du Lac, WI and Candice Desiree Mitchell from Ashville, NC have been awarded 2016 Women On Par Scholarships from the EWGA (Executive Women’s Golf Association) Foundation.
Now in its eighth 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.
Bertram and Mitchell were awarded the scholarships based on need and their remarkable stories of perseverance and determination to further their education. Both women were thrilled to learn that the EWGA Foundation is helping to make their dreams a reality.
” Every year, we learn of so many women who are returning to school to further their education and personal circumstances,” says Nona Footz, President, EWGA Foundation Board of Directors. ” We are pleased to be able to help these two very deserving women. It is through the generosity of EWGA members and others that we can continue to ‘pay it forward’ with this annual Women on Par Scholarship program.”
In her forties, Bertram is pursuing a degree in business management while being the sole provider for her four children and disabled husband. Since 2008, when her husband was injured in a construction accident, Bertram has endured a series of family tragedies and overcome numerous hardships, working as a waitress to support her family.
“By returning to school, I took the initiative to get our lives back to as normal as possible,” said Bertram. “One of the reasons I am majoring in business is because I believe the skills I have developed through the years of struggle, the extra responsibilities I had to assume, and the obstacles I have had to overcome will be useful in the business world. My goal is to get my family back ‘on par’ and this scholarship will help. Thank you EWGA Foundation.”
Thirty-one year old Mitchell is a single mom and cancer survivor working toward a nursing degree. She left an abusive marriage and underwent cancer surgery and now works several jobs as a housekeeper and personal assistant to support herself and daughter.
” This scholarship will help me maintain a balance between working to support my family and retaining the flexibility and time I need to attend classes and study,” said Mitchell. ” I want to give my daughter the example of a strong independent role model. Becoming a nurse is a profession I can be proud of and where my skill and compassion will be useful and necessary. I know from experience that in medical difficulties it is often the nurses who have the most personal contact with the patient. If I can make life easier for a person or family, I will consider that day a success.”
Information and application forms for next year’s Women on Par Scholarships will be available online on January 1, 2017 on the EWGA Foundation website. 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.
About EWGA
With chapters in over 100 communities throughout the United States, EWGA is locally connected and nationally respected. A recent survey conducted by the PGA of America found EWGA members annually generate over $63 million in golf-related spending for the golf industry. The organization holds thousands of golf, social and networking opportunities throughout the country as well as major national competitions and events. Its members are a diverse group of women from beginners to experienced golfers and a broad spectrum of career paths. For more information see www.ewga.com
Twitter: @ewga Facebook: ewga1
Contact:
Angie Niehoff angie_niehoff@ewga.com 561-868-0297