The Rankin File
Fall 2014
Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund
A Multi-Generational Journey
The scholarship
has allowed me to
continue pursuing my
dreams of becoming a
certified teacher.
Theo, 2013 and 2014 Jeannette
Rankin scholar and her daughter
I
moved from Washington State
to Georgia with my husband
and two kids. After the move,
my husband wanted to get divorced.
I was a stay-at-home mom, our
caretaker and homemaker; I had not
pursued my own career or education.
I knew I needed to provide
for my girls, so I began
pursuing my degree.
The Jeannette Rankin Fund
scholarship makes my education
possible by helping pay my tuition.
Despite working full-time during
the day, I couldn’t afford my night
classes without this help.
It means so much more to me
that my girls get to witness me
completing this journey. I don’t
think they will ever forget the
example I have set. When I first
enrolled in school, my oldest
daughter was in high school. I
think seeing me study hard and do
homework influenced her to do her
best. She graduated 15th in her class
with 12 Advanced Placement classes
and applied herself so much. She
earned a prestigious scholarship at
George Washington University, and
it’s almost a full ride scholarship.
During the summer, I took five
classes, and as I sat doing my work, I
would tell my daughters:
Girls, when you’re in school,
stay on that path and don’t
let anyone take you off of it.
Theo plans to graduate this December
with her bachelor’s degree in
Elementary Education.
Extending Support
S
ince 1978, Jeannette Rankin
Fund has provided scholarships
to 793 women across the
U.S. The awards are used where
women need help the most–for
books, transportation, child care
or other living expenses. Jeannette
Rankin scholars often tell us how
the flexibility of their award made it
possible to go to school.
We saw a great need for support to
help women through to graduation.
A pilot program of three renewal
scholarships began in 2004. In 2014,
52 women are renewal scholars—a
true testament to the need for
multi-year funding. Our scholars
may renew for up to five years, so an
initial $2,000 award can become a
$10,000 investment.
Since 2004, when the renewal
program began, 459 women have
received scholarships and 229 of
them renewed their awards. The
chart shows the number of years
each of the 229 renewal scholars
received Jeannette Rankin awards:
Renewal Scholars
2004-2014
5 years . . . . . . . 18
4 years . . . . . . . 16
3 years . . . . . . . 63
2 years . . . . . . 132
Mission: Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund (JRF) provides
scholarships and support to low-income women 35 and older to build
better lives through college completion.
In 2014, 87 women are receiving $2000 JRF scholarships.
www.rankinfoundation.org
Impacting Women and Families for 38 Years
JeannetteRankin
Rankin Fund
Scholars,
1976-2012
Jeannette
Scholars
1978-2014
Serving Our Scholars Across the United States – from One Office
V
isitors to our office in
Athens, Georgia have the
opportunity to meet staff in
person, see scholar photos and ask
questions. Our door is open and we
welcome drop in guests anytime.
technology. But that’s not the
big attraction. Along one wall is a
13’ wide by 9’ tall map of the U.S.
with dots like the one above. Each
dot represents a Jeannette Rankin
scholar – 793 women as of 2014.
Jeannette Rankin’s Georgia home.
The cost of living in this region is
low, and internet and telephone
connectivity mean we can manage
our scholarship program across the
miles efficiently.
The most popular room is the Mary
Allen Lindsay Brannan Scholar Loft,
which was named when we received
a grant to add video-conferencing
“Where are your other offices?” asked
a recent visitor. There are no other
offices. We operate from one office
in Athens, near the location of
Staff include three full-time and one
part-time employee who administer
the awards, coordinate fundraising,
and run our program.
Alumnae Advisory Board
W
e’re launching an
exciting new initiative:
an Alumnae Advisory
Board! A select group of alumnae
will represent Jeannette Rankin
Fund in their communities, connect
with volunteers and donors, and
support current scholars through
mentorship and fundraising
initiatives. Most importantly,
the Alumnae Advisory Board will
provide crucial input on programs
and policies to help us better meet
the needs of the women we serve.
Our alumnae know what support
low-income, nontraditional students
need to truly change their lives
through education; harnessing
their knowledge will help improve
our program. We’ll have a national
network of passionate advocates
who believe in the power of women’s
education.
Alumnae will engage with Jeannette
Rankin Fund on a deeper level and
feel a stronger relationship with
our program. This will encourage
them to continue “paying forward”
the support they received. We’re
recruiting for the Alumnae Advisory
Board and will hold the group’s first
quarterly meeting in November.
We’re excited to see what this
amazing group will accomplish!
Program Advancement
A
s program coordinator at Jeannette
Rankin Fund, the absolute best part
of my job is interacting with Jeannette
Rankin scholars on a daily basis. Whether I’m
calling a new scholar to say congratulations
or working to reengage an alumna with our
program, I feel privileged to work directly with
such amazing women.
Many are the first
in their families
to step foot on a
college campus.
A typical day might
find me e-mailing a
current scholar to
wish her luck on final
exams and remind her
to return her scholarship paperwork, checking
in with a financial aid office to be sure a
scholarship check is appropriately assigned to a
scholar’s account, or helping a woman navigate
an enrollment obstacle just days before her term starts.
Recently, I helped a student work through her academic plan for the
upcoming school year. This particular scholar is studying to become an
electrician while continuing to work on local farms and construction
projects to make ends meet. Together,
I must be familiar with
we discussed her academic goals and
issues that commonly affect came up with a “to-do” list for what
low-income, adult students. she needs to accomplish including
scheduling manageable work
hours, seeking internship opportunities, applying for other scholarships
and creating a course schedule that will allow her to graduate as soon as
possible. When she earns her degree, she’ll be her town’s only licensed
electrician.
In between phone calls and e-mails, I’m working on big picture projects: the
online application system, our alumnae advisory board, building a national
network of volunteers and more. But the core of my work, and the part
that’s most rewarding, is providing support to Jeannette Rankin scholars.
Supporting our scholars means remembering important details about the
academic and personal lives of 87 women across the country. I must also be
familiar with issues that commonly affect lowincome, adult students, many of whom are the
I feel privileged
first in their families to step foot on a college
to work directly
campus. Most importantly, I have to really listen
with such amazing
to each woman and offer her an empathetic ear,
an encouraging word or a hearty congratulations. women.
Although I’m responsible for maintaining files and paperwork and
scholarship applications, managing the scholarship program is about so
much more than that. Taking the time to see each Jeannette Rankin scholar
as an individual woman who has overcome obstacles to pursue an education
helps me provide the best support to all of our scholars. I am tremendously
lucky to do what I do each day supporting the sisterhood of Jeannette
Rankin scholars.
–April Greene, Program Coordinator
New Scholarship
System
T
his year, Jeannette Rankin
Fund took a giant step
forward moving from
paper to an online scholarship
application and selection system.
Women who apply for Jeannette
Rankin scholarships are lowincome. Most are working fulltime and many are single mothers
who work, go to school and care
for their families. The online
application saves time including
trips to pick up letters of
recommendation and transcripts.
Applicants don’t need a printer to
make copies, and they don’t have
to go to a post office to mail their
application packet.
Now, friends and supporters
across the country can serve as
volunteers with the selection
process. Volunteers just need a
computer and internet access,
plus the desire to help women
build better lives through college
education. A few volunteer spaces
are available in 2015; please fill out
our short online form here: www.
rankinfoundation.org/support/
volunteer/
Scholar Success:
97.4% have
earned a degree
or certificate since
receiving the
Jeannette Rankin
scholarship
$
86.8% said their degree
helped them become more
financially secure
81.6% of
working alumnae
said their college
experience helped
them get the job
Data from respondents to 2013 scholar surveys
2014 Jeannette Rankin Scholars
H
ere are photos of some of
the 87 outstanding women
selected for Jeannette
Rankin scholarships in 2014. More
than 700 women applied this year.
Kim
Criminal Justice, VA
Valerie
Business, TX
Hannah
Radiography, NC
Sally
Nursing, MI
Donna
Nursing, WA
Shelly
Respiratory Care,
CA
Eilis
English
Education, WI
Gwendolyn
Human
Services, VA
Lisa
Special Ed., MN
Terra
Physicial Therapy,
MO
Michaela
Nursing, MA
Jamie
Social Work, WI
Providing the Pathway to a Better Future
“After my husband’s death, my
children and I had no source of
income other than social security
which ended for each child as they
turned 18, even though my two
special needs children are still at
home and dependent. I now have a
reliable source of income for myself
and my children.”
–Tracy
“One day, after a particularly hard test where I got the lowest score I’d ever
received, I came home with a heavy heart, trying to figure out where I could
scrape together even one more hour in our crammed schedule to study so that
would never happen again. I stopped at my mailbox, and like a miracle, found
a box from Jeannette Rankin Fund. It had a book of other students’ stories,
brightening my day and my attitude and conviction that I could work through
this and still be an excellent nurse, and one bad score would not change who I
am and what kind of care I am capable of giving.” – Dena
“Earning my degree has allowed me to become gainfully employed in positions that
have paid me enough to move off welfare.” –Angela
2014 Scholars
Kimberly
Teaching, AR
Dorene
Khadijah
Special Education, Criminal Justice,
OH
GA
Vera
Digital Media
Communications, OR
“As a Certified Nursing Assistant, I went
from minimum wage to almost $14.00
per hour. Now as a Registered Nurse,
instead of needing to work two jobs to
support us, I earn $30.00 per hour and
work one 40 hour per week job! It is
amazing to see how qualifying myself
through education has actually worked
to make life possible!”
–Patricia
“With the Jeannette Rankin scholarship,
I can go to school, and I’m showing my
girls they can do it too.” – Viola
Leslie
Education, TX
Sharon
Nursing, NC
Maria
Social Work, GA
Irma
Nursing
TX
“I have celebrated accomplishments
with a group of sisters I have never laid
eyes on, and I have found cheerleaders
who motivated me and lifted me up
when I didn’t think I had any more
to give.”
–Christina
Saadia
Cybersecurity, MD
Christine
Nursing, CA
Khia
Emergency Services,
UT
Shirlee
Social Work
UT
“It’s a wonderful feeling to know
there are organizations like Jeannette
Rankin Fund that believe in me and
will assist me toward my educational
goals. It inspires me to be a part of an
organization that believes women can do
anything they set their minds to.”
– Heather
“Despite my apprehension, I am
excited for the challenges ahead of me.
“The Jeannette Rankin scholarship
I know with the support of JRF, my
helps lessen the financial burden as I
dreams and goals are achievable.
make my way to the other side of this
My self-confidence has soared.”
journey to my dream.”
– Pamela
– Terra
Welcome Aboard, New 2014 Board Members
Michelle
Garfield Cook
Associate Provost
and Chief
Diversity Officer,
University of
Georgia
Maureen
Byrnes
Lead Research
Scientist,
George
Washington
University
For over 30 years, Maureen has
served in leadership positions
in the federal government,
philanthropy and the non-profit
sector. From 1997-2005, Maureen
was the Director of the Health and
Human Services program at The
Pew Charitable Trusts where she
designed and implemented a wide
variety of initiatives to address
challenges in the fields of public
health, foster care and science policy.
After leaving The Pew Charitable
Trusts, she served as Executive
Director of Human Rights First.
She worked as Vice President of the
Association of American Universities
advising presidents and chancellors
of 62 public and private research
universities. Maureen earned her
Master of Public Administration
degree at University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill and her
Bachelor of Arts degree at LeMoyne
College, magna cum laude.
Michelle has launched several
projects at the Office of Institutional
Diversity, including a certificate
program in diversity and inclusion
for faculty and staff, a seed grant
to stimulate diversity related
research, and more. She’s served
as co-principal investigator for the
Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for
Minority Participation, a National
Science Foundation program
that aims to significantly increase
the number of underrepresented
minorities pursuing degrees in
science, technology, engineering and
mathematics. She previously served
as associate dean of UGA’s Franklin
College of Arts and Sciences, and
she has taught in the history
department and the Institute for
African-American Studies. She holds
a bachelor’s degree in history from
Princeton, a master’s in AfricanAmerican Studies from Yale and a
doctorate in history from Duke.
Libby Pollock
Vice President of
Transformational
Change,
Assurant
Libby’s expertise is in leading
change management efforts for
strategic business transformation
– developing and implementing
strategies and plans including
internal change capabilities
throughout organizations.
Highlights of her experience
include leading Coca-Cola through
organizational redesign impacting
60,000 associates, creating an IT
Center of Excellence at Coca-Cola,
and facilitating the integration
of acquired companies into the
larger company. She also led
Cox Enterprises through change
management planning and
implementation. Libby has earned
the Prosci Change Management
Certification and Oriel, Inc., Six
Sigma Green Belt Certification. She
graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in
Economics from the Liberal Arts and
Management Program at Indiana
University, magna cum laude.
The Gift of Education
by Tracey Worthington Stice
Jeannette Rankin Fund Board Member
I
first volunteered with Jeannette Rankin Fund
in 2004 and have been a supporter ever since
then. Watching our scholars progress through
their education and then establish themselves
professionally is awe inspiring!
Scholars who particularly touch my heart are
those who share just how much their children now
value education after having shared the journey
with their mothers. This multi-generational
transformation is what will truly make a difference
in changing lives.
Thank you for supporting our mission to lift
women out of the cycle of poverty through
education.
Tracey (right) and her husband Steve with Jeannette Rankin
scholar Valency. Tracey and Steve donate a scholarship annually
with their family and friends. The Viola Worthington Award helped
Valency graduate with her degree in Baking & Pastry. Valency
now owns her own business, VeeLicious Bakery, in Chicago.
Irma’s
AnnualExpenses
Family Expenses
Irma’s
$12,800
$12,800 Annually
Rent
Utilities
Food/Clothes
Child/Dependent Care
Medical & Insurance
Transportation
$3,600
$1,000
$6,000
$600
$400
$1,200
Living in Poverty: The True Picture
Irma is
working
toward her
associate’s
degree in
nursing while
raising three
children. She
works as a
Direct Care
staff member
at a local drug
and alcohol treatment facility.
She, her two children, and her
grandson live on $15,000 a year.
Their expenses total $12,800
The Importance of Women in STEM
T
he Economics & Statistics
Administration within
the U.S. Department of
Commerce reports about women in
Science Technology Engineering and
Math in careers:
• Women with STEM jobs earned
33% more than comparable
women in non-STEM jobs.
• Women with a STEM degree are less
likely than their male counterparts
to work in a STEM job.
• Although women fill close to half
of all jobs in the U.S., they hold
less than 25% of STEM jobs. This
has been the case throughout the
past decade.
Our Annual Dinner theme this year
is Women in STEM. It’s important
to recognize the women pursuing
degrees and careers in these fields to
not only to dispel stereotypes, but to
show other women and girls that it’s
possible.
Keynote Speaker:
Margaret Wagner Dahl
Associate Vice President for Health IT
at Georgia Institute of Technology
Margaret has worked for nearly 30 years
in technology transfer and has extensive
expertise in the biomedical industry.
Scholar Speaker:
Cheryl Jackson
Process Line Manager for Kellogg
Cheryl earned her degree in Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering in 2013.
Your Gifts Change Lives Forever
Y
our donation means a
woman can get to class, it
means a few less hours at
a minimum wage job so a nontraditional student can have more
time to study, and it means a family
has to worry less about how to pay
for food, clothing and shelter. Your
gift means all of those things, but
more than day-to-day survival,
your gift means change. It means
five years from now, that woman
will have a job because of her degree.
She will be self-sufficient. Her family
will not live paycheck to paycheck.
Her kids will go to school and earn
degrees and continue that tradition.
The vicious cycle of poverty will be
replaced with one of independence,
job skills and volunteerism.
Your donation helps women conquer
poverty permanently. Thank you!
annually, and Irma’s school expenses
are an additional $6,500. She
makes ends meet with food stamps,
Medicaid, grants, scholarships, and
student loans. The Jeannette Rankin
Fund scholarship enables Irma to
pay for daycare and helps with gas
and maintenance for her car.
Irma is one of 87 Jeannette Rankin
scholars in 2014. The $2,000
investment and personal support
from Jeannette Rankin Fund’s
Program Coordinator and staff are
helping Irma become self-sufficient.
Follow Jeannette’s
Lead!
J
eannette Rankin is helping
87 women this year even
though she died more than
40 years ago. A total of 793
women have received 1,201
scholarships in honor of
Rankin, who passed away
years before the first award
was given. Rankin’s modest
bequest started a movement
that has impacted hundreds
of women and families across
the U.S. You can do the
same.
Consider including Jeannette
Rankin Fund in your will.
It’s easy to do, let’s you live
comfortably now, and creates
a legacy extending long after
you’ve gone. Your generosity
will be in the hearts of
women and their children.
Your legacy will strengthen
families and communities
generations into the future.
For more information about
bequest gifts, contact Sue
Lawrence at 706-208-1211.
Women in STEM:
Science,
Technology, Engineering &
Math
9/16/14 • 5:30-8pm
Classic Center Atrium
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
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Athens, GA
Permit No. 230
1 Huntington Road, Suite 701
Athens, GA 30606
706-208-1211 • rankinfoundation.org
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Celebrate women graduating ,
securing careers and giving back
to their communities.
You can enjoy a printed
copy of our newsletter.
Submit your mailing
address to:
[email protected]
Running for Rankin
Fun Run & 5K
sponsored by
Thank you!
September 6, 2014
8 am Fun Run • 8:30 am 5K
Sandy Creek Park
400 Bob Holman Rd.
Athens GA
register: www.active.com
Richard W. Riley
Former United States
Secretary of Education
First Hispanic American Astronaut
Jeannette Rankin Keynote Speaker
Dr. Ellen Ochoa
Donald and Jane Nute
“We become stronger as a
nation when more people
have access to education.
Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship
Fund makes college possible for lowincome women, thirty-five and older,
which positively impacts their families
and the generations to come.”
“Too often, as we who work at NASA
know all too well, you hear only
from those who are always willing to
criticize or to provide discouragement
in whatever you may try. It may
seem difficult or scary to
pursue ambitious goals, but
realize that you don’t have to do it
alone. In fact, Jeannette Rankin Fund
is set up to show women that they
have supporters, people who are
willing to provide others with the
training and confidence that they
will need to improve their lives and
their communities. They help women
pursue their educational goals, and not
have to ‘go it alone.’ ”
“As retired educators, we recognize
that lifelong learning enriches
individuals’ lives. Jeannette Rankin
scholarships take this to
another level by providing
possibilities to women who
want to pursue their vision of
new lives later in life. Women
striving and achieving their goals models
to those around them the importance
of planning and working. We are
thrilled to continue our participation in
this worthwhile endeavor.”
Andrea W.
Jeannette Rankin Scholar
New Donor
“I hope that you find many donors
this year. Please let them know their
donations make a HUGE difference!
I will be forever grateful for
the scholarship I received twice!
Please apply my enclosed contribution
to help a new Jeannette Rankin scholar
with a new scholarship this year.
Thanks again, and God bless you all.
Jeannette Rankin Fund
Scholarship Donors
Connect with us
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twitter:
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Scholar videos:
youtube.com/
rankinfoundation