Since 1998 AAUW Laguna Beach Branch has awarded scholarships to Laguna Beach High School graduating senior girls. Selection is based on financial need and the applicant’s ability to demonstrate her involvement in the community in tutoring, mentoring, or otherwise promoting equity in education. For the past two years, AAUW awarded two scholarships—one to a girl who is pursuing her education at a community college and one who is going to a four year school.
Our branch also awards scholarships to women returning to college. Scholarship winners are selected from local local colleges, including Saddleback College and the Laguna College of Art and Design.
Congratulations 2007 Scholarship Winners!
High School Senior Scholarships
Photo: Amanda Winner, Miriam Kranser, Laure Michelon, Casey Serra, and Nancy Lawrence
Amanda Winner comes from an artistic family. For the past
five years she served as a sales associate at her parents’
booth at the Sawdust Festival. Her interests are in two
areas, Cinematography and Math and Science. For
part of her high school education she attended Orange
County High School of the Arts while working as a
cashier in a Laguna Beach coffee shop and painting
original designs on bags for a local clothing company.
While at OCHSA she was active in the film and television
conservatory and produced video shorts as a group
project. She writes that “Fine arts have always brought
joy to my life.” Amanda hopes to pursue a career in
cinematography.
Laure Michelson’s favorite subjects are Math and Science. She
has been accepted to Columbia University where she
plans to major in Engineering and Medicine. In her application
she writes, “After becoming a civil engineer
and general practitioner, I plan to join either Doctors
or Engineers Without Borders. I hope to be stationed in
Africa.”
This adventurous student loves to dance and has
appeared in many high school productions. Her extra
curricular activities have included tutoring, Surfrider
Club, peer awareness council and the Pink Ribbon Club
to fight breast cancer.
Case Serra's assignment in Economics class was to interview
and write about someone in a career she might be
interested in. Knowing that she was “a people person,”
Casey chose event planning and discovered an appealing
career. She would like to major in Psychology and
Economics and hopes to attend Marymount or Santa
Monica College. She has experience in meeting the
public as a salesperson at a local women’s clothing store
and as a spa attendant at the Surf and Sand hotel.
Casey has appeared in tableaux at the Pageant of the
Masters and enjoyed every minute of that experience.
Returning Woman Scholarship
In 2007 our branch established The Returning Woman Scholarship in keeping with
the national AAUW goal of helping women achieve financial security
through education. The scholarship is designated for a woman returning to college to prepare her for a career.
The $1200 scholarship was awarded to Chanda Lukin, a top student at Saddleback
College and single mother of three. Chanda found she has a talent for fixing
computer problems. Her goal is to complete the Computer Maintenance Technology
certificate “so that I can be employable in the computer field within the next year to
support myself and my family.” She eventually hopes to continue her education and
receive a degree in Computer Management.
We can be proud that we are making a positive change in the life of this worthy
young woman.
For more information about the AAUW Laguna Beach Branch Scholarships contact Miriam Kranser. Branch members may refer to the Members Only pages for contact information. Others may e-mail the webmaster via the Contact page.
National AAUW Fellowships, Grants and Awards
Click here for information about national AAUW's Fellowships, Grants and Awards.