News Briefs: March 20, 2009
LLLWA awards scholarships
In conjunction with Women’s History Month, the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Women’s Association (LLLWA) presented its annual scholarship awards totaling $8,500 to eight employees during a ceremony Wednesday.
The scholarship program provides financial support to employees in their pursuit of educational training as a means of career and personal advancement. Initiated in 1984, the program is celebrating its 25th year.
Monya Lane, acting associate director of Engineering, was this year’s keynote speaker. She spoke about the origins of Women’s History Month. National Women's History Month’s roots go back to March 8, 1857, when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions. International Women’s Day was first observed in 1909, but it wasn’t until 1981 that Congress established National Women’s History Week to be commemorated the second week of March. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month.
Former scholarship recipient, Michele Michael also spoke about her academic journey thus far. Receiving her associate’s degree from Las Positas last year prepared her for the next leg of her journey. Michael, who started the bachelor’s program at the University of San Francisco in September 2008, referred to the first semester as "boot camp." Crediting her support system of family, management, co-workers and the Women’s Association, she is looking forward to completing her academic program in 2010.
Recipients of this year’s awards include the following:
Winners of $1,250 scholarships are: Kimberly Scott, a former recipient and mechanical design engineer in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division, who is seeking a master’s of science degree in mechanical engineering from UC Davis; Jennifer Serrato, a computer scientist in Information and Communication Services Department, who is seeking an MBA from UC Davis; Lyudmila (Mila) Shapovalov, a former recipient and administrative specialist in the Physics Division of Physical and Life Sciences, who is seeking an MBA in business administration from Golden Gate University; and Teri York, a former recipient and a lead project scheduler in Engineering who is seeking a master’s of science degree in project management from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.
Winners of $1,000 scholarships are: Bob Arthur, a materials manager in Laser Systems Engineering and Operations division who is seeking an executive MBA in business administration from Saint Mary’s College; and Diana Murphy, an employment specialist in Strategic Human Resources Management who is seeking a bachelor’s degree in organizational behavior and leadership from the University of San Francisco.
Winners of $750 scholarships are: Kena Anderson, an administrator in the Engineering Directorate Office, who is working toward an associate’s degree in business administration from Las Positas College; and Bridget Petrovic, a former recipient and Web administrator in the Human Resources Information Management, who is seeking a master’s degree in computer information systems from Devry/Keller Graduate School of Management.
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