Women’s Club announces award recipients
Submitted by Madeline Pantalone
Community Awards
Each year the Scripps Ranch Women’s Club (SRWC) gives back to the community by funding programs and projects that directly benefit Scripps Ranch residents. Women’s Club board members Renie Martin and Lynn Parke presented the awards to schools and non-profit organizations in June.
Lynn stated: “As a 501c3 service organization, a major component of our club is to understand where there are opportunities to support and fund innovative and community enrichment programs.”
• The 2023 recipients of Focus on STEAM awards are:
Dingeman Elementary and Jerabek Elementary Schools – These awards will support the purchase of STEAM Lab Makerspace kits that are used to teach the basics of coding and innovation problem solving, and to encourage interactive exploration by their younger students.
St. Gregory the Great Elementary School – The award will be applied to the purchase of STEM kits that enable activities that work to build complex integrational skills and encourage exploration, imagination and perseverance.
Scripps Ranch Theatre – The award will support the theatre’s outreach and education program that brings the experience of live theatre to children in Scripps Ranch and throughout San Diego. This program sparks children’s imagination and creativity through the arts in ways that naturally align with STEM learning.
• The recipients of Inspire Reading awards are:
E.B. Scripps Elementary School – The award will be used in the main school library to purchase new books and to repair damaged books that support academic learning and the love of reading for enjoyment.
Scripps Ranch Friends of the Library – The award will enable the purchase of vibrant, full-color graphic library shelf markers that make navigation and exploration of new topics easy for children of all ages. This addition to our gift last year will enable the library to complete the relabeling of the library children’s section.
• The recipient of the Community Enrichment award is:
Symphony in the Park – The award will support Symphony in the Park’s 2023 program in recognition that these concert events bring Scripps Ranch residents together to enjoy and celebrate our community.
“Scripps Ranch schools and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply via our website for a Women’s Club award. All applications received by April 15 are considered for the awards announced in June,” noted Renie.
Scholarship Awards
The Women’s Club also recognizes young women in the community who combine academic scholarship with community service. The Annual SRWC Scholarship awards to senior women at Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) help these exceptional young women with their transition to the college of their choice. The recipients of this year’s scholarships are:
Melanie Calkins. Melanie plans to study Marketing at SDSU, with a special interest in using algorithms in social media apps and marketing campaigns. Her goal is to become an entrepreneur in the fashion or beauty industry. Among her accomplishments, Melanie earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for her community service, created a website dedicated to cultivating a positive teen body image, and served as a CSF peer mentor.
Grace Li. Grace plans on studying bioinformatics at USC. Her studies will further an interest cultivated as a bioinformatics lab research assistant supporting the study of gene regulation within the UCSD Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Among her accomplishments, Grace earned two Gold Presidential Volunteer Service awards, served as co-president of Future Scientists Club, president of Science Fair Club, and vice president of the Red Cross student board.
“This year we had a record number of very qualified applicants that made the decision very challenging for our scholarship committee. However, we are confident that the selected young women well represent the club’s vision and the community at large. They are inclusive, kind and supportive of others,” said scholarship chair Sally Anderson.
In addition, the club administers the Kimbra Sellers Business Scholarship on behalf of Kimbra’s husband Brian Sampson. Kimbra was a longtime Scripps Ranch resident, businesswoman and philanthropist who also served as the club president for several years. The recipient of this year’s scholarship is:
Melanie Calkins. Melanie was also selected for this award through a separate application, evaluation and interview process.
Brian noted: “It’s an honor to recognize a scholar who represents many of the attributes that made Kimbra so engaging, successful and respected. I look forward to seeing what Melanie accomplishes with her education, enthusiasm and drive.”
The club accepts scholarship applications via its website between January and April and announces the scholarship awards at SRHS’s annual awards assembly in June. Scholars and their mothers are also recognized at a luncheon with club members.
All awards are funded by donations made by the club’s members. For more information, visit Women’s Club website, srwomensclub.org.