Congratulations to This Year’s Scholarship Winners!

The Manhattan Branch is pleased to announce the 2012-2013 scholarship winners. Each scholarship award is for $1,000. All winners are non-traditional students.

Angel Alvarado, a Wichita native, is a junior in construction science and management in the College of Engineering. She is minoring in Spanish and business. Her grade school teachers told her again and again that you can be anything you want to be and Angel believed them! There are few women in her field, but Angel is determined to get her education knowing that her success will make a difference in her life and in the lives of her children.

Tonya Hodson, Marion, earned her wings many years ago; now she’s pursuing her dream to become a professional pilot in the Aeronautical Technology Professional Pilot program at K-State Salina. Tonya is poised to take advantage of what is expected, in the next ten years, to be the largest hiring boom in the history of the aviation industry. The Salina campus is the host for this year’s National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety Conference. As the VP of Conference, Tonya is gaining valuable experience as she makes important industry contacts.

Catherine Pearl, a St. Marys native, is a sophomore in elementary education with an emphasis in special education. She has had to overcome many obstacles in her life, not the least of which was a rare form of cancer. Catherine is a 16 year survivor who decided there’s no time like the present to pursue what you really want to do. She has a passion for teaching children and plans to be a teacher in a special education classroom or open her own daycare.

We congratulate these women who have the courage to start or continue their education knowing their contributions will benefit others while they pursue a better life for themselves.