The Soroptimist Live our Dream: Education & Training Awards for Women assist women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
Each year more than $2.6 million in education grants are disbursed through the LYD program to 1,600 women.
Since 1972, about $30 million has been awarded.
Of our awardees:
78% go on to secure higher paying employment
80% enjoy an increased standard of living
94% report an increase in self-esteem
95% now serve as positive role models for their dependents
97% of those who experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, trafficking and/or prostitution now report living in a safe environment.
Go to http://liveyourdream.org for more information
1st PLACE AWARD $1,500 Aimee Ellingson
Aimee is a 29 year old Chico native. She is a junior at Chico State working on her Bachelors in Nutrition Management. Her career goals include working with K-6 nutrition school programs and possible owning her own business. She has overcome many obstacles in her life, from becoming a single mom at the ripe age of 18, battling cancer at 21, and losing her mother to breast cancer at 23. She lives her dream daily as a mom to her son, Wyatt and their rescued pup Benji. She loves all things health and fitness and enjoys traveling and getting out in nature daily. She was also recently placed on the College of Natural Sciences Dean’s list for fall 2019 semester.
ADDITIONAL RECIPIENT AWARD $1,000 Idalee Montgomery
Idalee is a full-time single mother of a 14 year old son. She is a first generation college student as well as the oldest sibling of nine. She is a full-time college student who returned after 17 years raising three brothers and one sister. She will be graduating Butte College in fall 2020, with an AS-T in Business Administration and an AA in Social Behavioral Science. She will be continuing her education by transferring to California State University, Chico with her goal of a bachelor’s degree in human resource management in the spring of 2021. Attending school full-time, carrying 16 units this semester and working 15.5 hours a week has been successful thus far. She said, “I will continue to work hard to continue my studies. Thank you for this chance at the Soroptimist Scholarship.”
