Inna Shames
The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) Scholarship Program celebrated its 10th anniversary with a bang!
May 22: The organization awarded 27 scholarships of $3,500 each, a total of $94,500.
June 2: Suzan Bryceland, co-chair of a key Scholarship Committee, was interviewed by KOLD Tucson Now Live where she did an outstanding job promoting the TWOQC Scholarship Program to the Tucson area community!
TWOQC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to giving back to the community, and awarding scholarships to women in Pima and Santa Cruz Counties is one of their major endeavors. It started in 2016 with a single $1,000 scholarship. “How in the world will we ever raise $1,000?” is what Suzan remembers wondering at the time. Now, 10 years later, a cumulative total of 127 scholarships have been awarded, for a grand total of $341,200!
The KOLD interview conducted by Devyn Shea lasted approximately 12 minutes and was live-streamed on tucsonlive.com. Devyn’s questions and Suzan’s answers walked viewers through the history, development, and accomplishments of the TWOQC Scholarship Program.
Q: Where does the scholarship money come from?
“Funds for scholarships come from a variety of sources,” Suzan explained. “We have Matching Funds Campaigns, we also have dedicated Named Scholarships, and then in October comes Javelina Hoedown where we have a big Silent Auction of items collected due to the generosity of our residents in Quail Creek, as well as the wonderful business community in Sahuarita, Green Valley, and Tubac.”
Q: What does it mean to you when you meet women that you were able to help by awarding these scholarships?
“It’s very inspiring when you see the resilience, the dedication, and the adaptability of these women. That’s what keeps us going—our scholarships help give recipients a sense of who they are and what they can achieve.”
Q: What would you say to women out there to get them to apply?
“Education is so key to success in life. And through education we want to instill leadership, strength, belief in oneself … we want to empower women to believe that the sky’s the limit!”
Q: What have you learned from your conversations with these women?
“I admire them so much. What they have gone through and overcome … and support is so key for anyone, but it really makes a difference for these women!”
Q: What has this taught you about engaging in the community?
“Giving back to the community is so important. It makes you feel good as a person that you are reaching out and helping that next generation. I think we’re investing in our present and we’re investing in the future … it’s important to support women and give them that little step. We’re knocking on the door for them—now we want them to open that door and go forward!”
The entire segment is available for viewing on the KOLD website.
For more information about TWOQC’s Scholarship Program, contact Deb Melton, TWOQC Director of Scholarships, at scholarships@womenqc.com or go to womenqc.com/scholarship-information.