Whatcom Women in Business has awarded five scholarships of $5,000 to local women entering higher education, including but not limited to technical or trade school, beauty school, community college or university. The women are graduates of Lynden, Meridian, Sedro-Woolley, Squalicum and Ferndale High Schools.
Amardeep Ghuman will be graduating from Lynden High School in June 2020, where she has earned a 3.9 GPA. She will also be graduating with an Associate in Arts and Sciences from Whatcom Community College in 2020, where she has a 3.98 GPA. She has exhibited leadership skills and community involvement by organizing a donation drive at the Whatcom County Library System, where she works, by organizing a community monthly pancake breakfast at the Lynden Senior Center, serving as a tutor on Saturdays, and through her participation in Future Business Leaders of America and the National Honor Society. Amardeep will be attending Western Washington University, where she plans to study business administration and psychology. Whatcom Women in Business is proud to select Amardeep Ghuman as a scholarship recipient.
Aurya Downey will graduate in June 2020 from Meridian High School, where she earned a 4.0 GPA. She has exhibited leadership skills and community involvement by roles in Yearbook and the National Honor Society, serving as class president and vice-president, peer mentoring at her high school, and serving as a student team leader through Young Life. She is also a member of four soccer teams, and has served as team captain for four years. She will be attending the University of South Carolina Beaufort, where she will play soccer for the university and study biology and pre-medicine. She plans to be an anesthesiologist. Whatcom Women in Business is proud to select Aurya Downey as a scholarship recipient.
Heidi Ehlers graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 2008. She has been a resident of Whatcom County for several years, where she has been working as a caregiver. She currently works for Visiting Angels. She is a mother to two children, ages 3 and 9. In her free time Heidi enjoys spending time outdoors going on hikes with her children. After spending several years completing her prerequisites, while working fulltime, raising children and maintaining a 3.74 GPA, Heidi started the RN program at Bellingham Technical College in Spring 2020. This accomplishment has shown great determination and commitment. She has exhibited leadership and community involvement by volunteering and working with Warm Beach Special Friends Camp, teaching Sunday School, and serving as a camp counselor at Camp Firwood. Whatcom Women in Business is proud to select Heidi Ehlers as a scholarship recipient.
Katauna Loeuy will be graduating from Squalicum High School in June 2020, where she has earned a 4.0 GPA. She will also be graduating with an Associates in Business from Whatcom Community College in 2020, where she has a 3.9 GPA. She has exhibited leadership skills and community involvement by coaching a middle school basketball team, serving as a juror on teen court, serving as captain of the school tennis team, and starting a newspaper at her high school. She has also been exploring her interest in journalism by interning at Whatcom Talk for three years. Katauna will be attending the University of Washington, where she plans to study business marketing and journalism. Whatcom Women in Business is proud to select Katuana Loeuy as a scholarship recipient.
Rose Kular graduated from Ferndale High School in June 2019, where she earned a 3.96 GPA. She currently attends Western Washington University, where she is studying business administration with a marketing concentration and communications minor. She has exhibited leadership skills and community involvement by teaching 3rd graders at a local Punjabi school, by serving as Vice President of Marketing with DECA, and volunteering with the Chardi Kala Project, where they honor the Sikh culture and educate the community. Whatcom Women in Business is proud to select Rose Kular as a scholarship recipient.
Selected scholarship recipients will be required to volunteer up to 20 hours with Whatcom Women in Business prior to September 1. Applicants may only receive one scholarship. If an applicant does not receive a scholarship one year, they may apply again. Payments are sent directly to each school or university.
Whatcom Women in Business is comprised of business owners and managers developing and maintaining proactive role models within the organization and the community at large. Through teaching, learning, leadership and peer support, we strive to exemplify and promote the four areas we honor- leadership, professionalism, mentoring, and community.
For more information about scholarships and membership in Whatcom Women in Business, see www.wwib.org.