Left to right: Front row: Aymara Porras, Gabby Wander, Adalien Santa Maria, Andrea Carrillo; back row: Andrea Herrera, Madison Mulkins, Megan Duncan, Alicia Cabrera (photo by Jim Burkstrand)
Judy White and Peggy McGee
The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) was able to award eight scholarships to graduating seniors to help them begin their post-high school education. TWOQC’s Scholarship Committee spent several years working closely with Sahuarita and Walden Grove High School counselors to build awareness of this scholarship opportunity, and their efforts have really paid off. This year, 34 girls applied and 19 were interviewed. Good grades were not the only criteria. Financial need also weighed heavily when it came to choosing the winners. Each received a $1,500 scholarship.
Walden Grove High School:
Madison Mulkins will be enrolling in University of Arizona’s business program. She served as junior and senior class president, captain of the soccer team, and LINK (freshman orientation program) leader for two years. “There aren’t enough women at higher levels of business management,” says Madison, and she wants to help change that and pave the way for other young women coming behind her.
Megan Duncan will study at Arizona State University in materials science and engineering. She was varsity volleyball and tennis team captain. She wants to use her materials science degree to find sustainable solutions for environmental issues, and eventually turn to teaching.
Aymara Porras will be pursuing a nursing degree at University of Arizona. She was on the PAC dance team for three years and active in her Class Club all four years. She wants to combine nutrition courses with her nursing degree to help address eating disorders that affect many teens.
Sahuarita High School:
Adalien Santa Maria will attend Arizona Christian University, majoring in sports psychology, minoring in athletic training. She was in the school orchestra, student council, junior class and student body president, and volunteered at her parish. Her career goal is to become a sports psychologist, fitness or athletic trainer with a major sports team.
Gabby Wander will major in psychology at University of Arizona. She worked full-time while going to school and maintained a 3.8 GPA. She is proud to be the first in her family to go to college. She hopes to become a therapist with an emphasis on helping struggling teens.
Andrea Herrera will attend the Aveda Institute in Tucson for a certificate in cosmetology art. She participated for two years in the Tubac Center for the Arts Hi-Art competition and the Scholastic Art Competition. Her goal is to eventually open her own business.
Rio Rico High School:
Andrea Carrillo will study nursing at University of Arizona. She was involved in the Fine Arts Club, volleyball and soccer teams, and Girl Scouts. According to Andrea, “Art is a whole different world; it is a world of imagination and magic.”
Alicia Cabrera is heading to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, majoring in aeronautical engineering. She was a teacher’s and office aide at school, mentored students with math, Interact (high school level Rotary), and Dead Poets Society. With an engineering degree, she looks toward applying her particular mathematical skills to many areas of interest.