Helps Women Reinvent their Lives by Returning to College
Women's specialty retailer Talbots is delighted to announce the finalists of the 2012 Talbots Women's Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Talbots Charitable Foundation, which has helped over 600 women return to college since its inception in 1997. For the 2012 academic year, the program is awarding $200,000 in college scholarships, including 17 $10,000 awards and one $30,000 Nancy Talbot Scholarship Award to the finalist demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit marked by creativity and a philanthropic focus towards her community. This award is named in memory of the founder of Talbots.
"This year's Scholarship recipients know the importance of having a voice in our world and having it heard loud and clear," said Lori Wagner, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Talbots. "From immigrant advocate and hopeful author to speech pathologist, each woman's chosen goal tells a story about her own journey to overcome life's obstacles. True to founder Nancy Talbot's vision of inspiring others by sharing stories, these exceptional women are beginning new chapters. We couldn't be happier to support their commitment, determination and individual journeys."
2012 Nancy Talbot Scholarship Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit
This year's $30,000 Nancy Talbot Scholarship Award goes to Roberta Guerrero from Hayward, Calif. Ms. Guerrero is a mother of four with nine grandchildren. As a young woman, she moved to Saipan for her husband's job and helped turn his family's bakery from a fledging business to a huge successful organization. She also joined the tourism board to help increase tourism in Saipan, while volunteering for countless nonprofit organizations. After decades abroad, she returned home to California divorced and facing financial hardships. Determined to reinvent herself, Ms. Guerrero is currently enrolled at the University of California in Berkeley and plans to become a published author so she can inspire others through storytelling.
2012 $10K Scholarship Finalists
The recipients of the 2012 $10,000 scholarship awards are as follows (listed by state/province):
Arizona
Sandra Garayzar, Tempe, AZ; Arizona State
University; substance abuse counselor
Stacy Urbanski, Phoenix, AZ;
Paradise Valley Community College; dietician
California
Patricia Black, San Jose, CA; Mills College;
public policy
Kristina Shapona, El Cerrito, CA; Samuel Merritt
University; nursing
Colorado
Bonie Shupe, Fort Collins, CO; Colorado State
University; apparel design
Kimberly Whisenhunt, Monument, CO;
Colorado Technical University; criminal justice
Idaho
Rita Bates, Boise, ID; College of Western Idaho;
nursing
Louisiana
Brennan Peters, New Orleans, LA; Loyola
University; psychology and English
Montana
Marilyn Klein, Billings, MT; Montana State
University; business administration
Amy Ling, Stevensville, MT;
University of Montana; immigrant advocacy
Oregon
Laurie Morris, Springfield, OR; University of Oregon;
communications disorders
Lisa Ortlip, Portland, OR; Art Institute
of Portland; design visualization
Pennsylvania
Twila Ramirez, Wyomissing, PA; Columbia
University; political science
South Carolina
Karen Burky, Hilton Head, SC; South
University; physical therapy assistant
Texas
Erin Hildebrand, Tyler, TX; University of Texas at
Tyler; nursing
Washington
Jennifer Kendall, Spokane, WA; Gonzaga
University; sociology
Alberta, Canada
Catherine La Chapelle, Alberta, Canada;
University of Alberta; education
"I am completely overcome with emotion to receive this scholarship at the age of 49 and be given an opportunity to change my life," said Sandra Grayazar. "I feel like my heart will burst with gratitude at being able to accomplish my goal of becoming a substance abuse counselor."
Over 11,000 women from throughout the U.S. and Canada entered the application process for the 2012 program beginning mid October 2011 through early January 2012. The finalists were chosen by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Citizen's Scholarship Foundation of America, Inc., and a panel of judges chosen by Talbots. The 2012 judges include: Joy Bauer, America's favorite nutritionist and author; Kate Betts, fashion editor and author; Jean Chatzky, award winning journalist and best selling financial expert; Rachael Chong, founder and CEO of Catchafire.org; Sunita Cooke, president of Grossmont College; Kelly Corrigan, New York Times bestselling author; Ann Daly, career coach, consultant and author; Beth Kanter, blogger, social media expert and author; Gloria Cordes Larson, President of Bentley University; Pamela Mitchell, founder and CEO of the Reinvention Institute; Mary Alice Stephenson, fashion and style expert and commentator; and Trudy Sullivan, President and CEO of The Talbots, Inc.
The Talbots Women's Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Talbots Charitable Foundation, a private non-profit organization committed to supporting the education, health and cultural enrichment of women. Over the past 15 years, this program has awarded more than $1.6 million in college grants to 600+ women ranging in age from their late 20s to early 60s. For more information on this program, visit www.talbots.com/scholarship.
Talbots is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of women's apparel, shoes and accessories. The Company's online shopping site is located at www.talbots.com.
Contacts:
Talbots
Meredith Paley, 212-841-1845
Vice President, Public
Relations
meredith.paley@talbots.com
