Good ol' summertime in the desert usually means there’s hardly a shady lane to be found, and philanthropy, which reigns supreme in the winter, takes a break. Not always! The local P.E.O. Chapter RD met last month for a luncheon at Si Bon restaurant to honor two remarkable young women with scholarships, Azul Hernandez and Jenny Bravo-Perez.
P.E.O., which stands for philanthropy, education organization, and whose goal is to motivate, educate and celebrate women, certainly demonstrated that high calling by making the goals of these two young women possible.
Hernandez wants to be a nurse practitioner. She is currently enrolled in the Cal State University San Bernardino-PD's nursing program. After completion, she hopes to become a NICU nurse and eventually
go back to school and get a master’s degree. When she has free time, she heads for the tennis courts.
She was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the local P.E.O. Chapter RD.
Bravo-Perez wants to become a radiologist; however, her immediate plan is to become a radiologic technologist, work in the field, save money and then go to medical school. She is currently a student at College of the Desert with plans to continue at Mt. San Jacinto College.
She currently volunteers at a free health care clinic, which has inspired her to do more for her community. She hopes to one day to open a clinic in the Coachella Valley that offers multiple health care resources and services in one place to make health care more accessible in the community where she grew up. She enjoys thriller documentaries, which helps her understand how people think and what leads them to take certain actions.
She was awarded $5,000 as a recipient for P.E.O. Chapter RD, California State SHINE scholarship.
P.E.O was founded in 1869 by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan University. The nonprofit organization has helped women make their educational dream become a reality. Approximately $462 million in educational assistance has made a difference in the lives of more than 129,000 women. With over 50 scholarships available in California, the state has given more than $20,023,448 in scholarships.
In addition, Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, is the only nonsectarian college in the nation supported by women, for women, with more than 20 majors in which to choose. P.E.O. provides stewardship for the college.
Much appreciation goes to those capable and intrepid volunteers and scholarship committee members Linda Simmons, Pamela Sinco and Janis Andre, who never disappoint.
Joanne Hardy, a teacher with a yen to write (especially historical fiction) has published three novels, the first set during the Civil War, the second, during the Great Depression and most recently, "Abandoned," a story about the rise of the railroad era, the Civil War and the Women's Suffragette movement. A desert resident since 1958, she has reported for the Desert Scene for 15 years.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: P.E.O. Chapter RD awards scholarships to local students
