Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club Awards Five Local High School Seniors with the 2020 DGJWC Scholarship
DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS – The Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club (DGJWC) is pleased to announce the five local high school seniors being awarded the 2020 DGJWC Scholarship:
Carolyn-Paige Breit – University of Wisconsin – Madison, Biology & Spanish
Sophie Goray – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Business
Eli Pfotenhauer – Belmont University, Music Business
Madeleine Spencer – University of Kentucky, Biology (Conservation)
Lily Wenger – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Biochemistry
These seniors were selected from a recent record number of applicants (approximately 80), all of whom would have been deserving of the scholarship. However, Breit, Goray, Pfotenhauer, Spencer, and Wenger really stood out based on their academic merits, leadership qualities, diverse extracurricular involvements, and – most importantly – volunteerism and commitment to service both within and beyond their community. All of these seniors’ philanthropic spirit aligns with what is at the core of the DGJWC’s mission: supporting others in need.
DGJWC’s Education Committee Co-Chair, Valerie Hardy, said, “Each of the scholarship recipients beyond impressed the selection committee. These hardworking and generous students are going to continue to change the world. We are so proud of them and can’t wait to learn of their continued individual successes and service contributions as they enter this next chapter of their lives.”
While typically the DGJWC would recognize the scholarship recipients in person not once but twice – at the Club’s April General Membership Meeting and at the students’ high school Senior Awards Night – due to the stay-at-home order they did the next best thing: surprised the scholarship recipients via Zoom video conference. “While we so very much wish we could have publicly recognized these outstanding students and human beings for all of their accomplishments and gifts of service and given them the applause they deserve, it was a privilege to be able to share the good news with them and their families, especially during this challenging time,” Hardy said.
Colleen Schaefer, President of the Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club, said, “I'm thrilled that DGJWC continues to support our Club's pillar of education by recognizing outstanding seniors in our community. Our organization was so impressed with the talent and drive of all the student applicants and feel fortunate to have them in our community. We hope these scholarships will be an added support as they continue their academic journeys and look forward to watching them thrive!”
Congratulations again to all these deserving seniors! We wish them the best on their future endeavors.
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About Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club: The Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club is a non-partisan, non-denominational, volunteer women's organization. Its members are dedicated to supporting and raising the awareness of charitable organizations, individuals in need and the community. Women interested in joining the DGJWC can find more information here: www.dgjwc.org.