This is the season of giving and one northern Illinois nonprofit is offering recognition in the forms of scholarships and other awards.
The YWCA of Northwestern Illinois is accepting applications from high school seniors in the region for two scholarship opportunities: Bright Future and La Voz Latina.
Kris Machajewski is the president and CEO of the nonprofit. She said the organization is looking for applicants who embody the mission of the YWCA.
“And it's really interesting,” she said, “sometimes reading a different generational perspective of the issues that we are working on with the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women.”
The $1,500 Bright Future scholarship will be offered to one female student. There are two $1,670 scholarships for La Voz Latina. They can be awarded to a male or female of Hispanic descent.
Students must live and attend school in Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson or Jo Daviess counties.
In addition to the offering scholarships, the organization is also preparing for their 2022 Women of Achievement Awards.
Machajewski said it’s important to recognize the accomplishments of women because most of them don’t toot their own horns.
“We downplay our successes," she said. "We don't tend to even apply for a job if we don't think that we have ticked off every box of what they listed. You know, men are like, ‘Oh, yeah, I walked down that aisle, I'm good. I can totally do that.’”
There are six categories for these awards: Business, Community Leadership, Mentorship, Professions, Promise and Racial Justice.
Nominees must be between the ages of 18 and 35.
The submission deadline for both the scholarships and the Women of Achievement Awards is Jan. 14.
- Yvonne Boose is a current corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project. It's a national service program that places talented journalists in local newsrooms like WNIJ. You can learn more about Report for America at wnij.org.