TTS STUDENT RECEIVES FORD FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
Maralee Aguirre, a recent Transitions to Success graduate, was awarded the Ford Family Scholarship this year. The following is just a short part of this amazing woman’s story.

In 1995, Maralee Aguirre left a nine year abusive relationship. With three young children, no education, no job, and no money, she moved to Eugene from Coos Bay.

With few options, Maralee applied for public assistance.  Her welfare caseworker kept planting seeds about getting an education that could improve the quality of her life.  Maralee didn’t feel ready for school, so she got a job.  Still, the seeds were planted, and she started thinking about school.

From 1996 through 1998, Maralee worked for various not-for-profit organizations as an office assistant and fundraiser.    One of her jobs, with the American Red Cross, was through Jobs Plus. The Jobs Plus program set up a scholarship fund for Maralee to go to school and get some training. 

Maralee found that working full-time with three young kids was extremely stressful.  She needed some flexibility with her hours so she could be with her family when they needed her.  So she left the American Red Cross and went to work as a telemarketer. This proved to be a great place for her and served her needs at that time.

At this point, Maralee’s best friend, Christel, started encouraging Maralee to go to school.  Christel had started school and was receiving several benefits through Financial Aid and other sources.  She kept telling Maralee that there was a lot of assistance out there and that Maralee would qualify.

While she was working her telemarketing job, Maralee started laying the groundwork needed to start school.  She applied to AFS for assistance with housing and childcare, and also applied for federal financial aid.  All of these supports were in place by the time she actually started school.

Maralee worked at telemarketing for nearly two years while setting herself up to go to school.  In the fall of 1999, Maralee enrolled in the Transitions to Success program at LCC. That first term was really tough:  juggling illness, three children, school and home was overwhelming.  On top of that, Maralee came home from school one day to find an eviction notice on her door.  She had 72 hours to be out of her home! 

Being a very proactive person, Maralee took the notice and went immediately to the courthouse to find out what her rights were.  She hired an attorney and got the notice extended to 30 days.  Then, finding resources through HUD and the Women’s Program at LCC, Maralee was able to secure a new home for her family ten days before Christmas.

We all have people in our lives who have inspired us, and Maralee credits her friend Christel as her inspiration.  Christel talked to Maralee about the Ford Foundation Scholarship and how much she wanted the award for herself.  Christel then suggested that they both apply for the scholarship and Maralee agreed.  They did this with an attitude of mutual encouragement and support, rather than competitiveness.

The payoff was big!  This fall, both Maralee and her friend Christel were awarded Ford Family Scholarships.  These scholarships guarantee four years of funding at 90% of the student’s unmet financial need.  This will take Maralee through her Bachelor’s degree.  She can then apply for graduate funding through the same scholarship.

Maralee has had a goal from the start, although the goal has shifted somewhat as she has learned more about herself and what she wants to do with her life.  Today Maralee is considering a degree in sociology because her passion is people.  Having come from a drug-related background of oppression and violence, Maralee believes she has a lot to offer people in helping them make better choices for themselves. Also, Maralee sees increasing job potential and a wide variety of career opportunities for a person with a degree in sociology.

Our hat is off to this powerful woman who sees her role as a supportive influence in our community.  Congratulations, Maralee, you certainly deserve this and much, much more.

Mark Your Calendars
WOMEN’S CENTER - Halloween Open House - Tuesday, Oct. 31  -  10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join us for our annual Women’s Center Fall Open House and Halloween party in Center Building, room 213 on the LCC main campus.  Meet our staff and share hot cider and munchies.  Costumes are encouraged but not required! Call 463-5353 for more information. 

WOMEN STARTING COLLEGE WORKSHOP - Nov. 14 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.  -  Women’s Center
A free workshop for women who are anxious or unsure about starting school, and balancing school, family and work. Learn about support, resources and programs.  For information or to preregister, call the Women’s Center at 463-5353.

SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP - Thursday, Nov. 16 - 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.  -  Forum 309 
Career and Employment Services (CES) will present a workshop covering two special awards, the Ford Opportunity Grant and the Ford Scholars Scholarship.  Both scholarships pay 90% of a four-year degree. There will also be a brief overview on how to research programs, prepare application materials and essays, and how to compile a scholarship portfolio. Seating is limited. You can sign up in CEN 210 or call 726-2217 for reservations.  This is the first in a series of CES sponsored workshops that will continue through Winter term. For more information, contact Geri Meyers at ext. 2296.

BROWN BAG TALKS
“Unplugging the Holidays” - Nov. 16, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.  -  Boardroom
Preparing for the holidays can be such a drag.  Come hear Sandra Aldridge talk about unplugging the holidays and enjoying them more.  Sandra will present an arena for an in-depth discussion of ways you can disconnect some of the stressors of the season, and plug into creating a more meaningful holiday. 

WOMEN OF COLOR IN HIGHER EDUCATION
The 2000 Kaleidoscope Conference  will be held in Atlanta, GA from December 6th through the 10th. Kaleidoscope is a national leadership training program for women of color in higher education. Please submit your application to Miriam Jordan in the Office for Instruction & Student Services. Registration is $595 (funding requests will be considered). The deadline is November 1st.

TRANSITIONS TO SUCCESS GRADUATION - Dec 14, 5:30 - 7:30 pm  -  Cafeteria, Main Campus
The Transitions To Success program will hold its graduation ceremony for all three fall term TTS classes on December 14.  This is a fun and inspirational event and is an opportunity to join the TTS students in celebrating their accomplishments and acknowledging their future plans.  All are invited.

WIT CONFERENCE REPLACES WOMEN’S DAY
After ten years of sponsoring Women’s Day at Lane each January, the Women’s Program is shifting focus.  We will not be having Women’s Day this year, but will be sponsoring a Women in Information Technology conference during Spring term 2001.  The WIT conference will focus on careers in technology, including computer and electronics-based opportunities.  More details will be forthcoming in our Winter and Spring newsletters.

SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
Applications due by Dec. 15
Soroptimist International sponsors Women’s Opportunity Awards each year.  Candidates should  be heads of  household completing  under-graduate programs, or entering  vocational or technical training programs.  Local award winners become eligible to receive regional awards, and regional award winners become eligible to receive a $10,000 international finalists award. Awards applications are available in the Women’s Center, C213, and the application deadline is December 15.  For more information, call the Women’s Center at 463-5353. 

WOMEN IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
     The Women in Information Technology (WIT) group met for the first time this term in October.  Women students from the Com-puter Information Technology De-partment and the Electronics Department attended. Four students who graduated from LCC last year joined us to talk about the jobs and/or training they are currently doing.  It is wonderful seeing former students being successfully employed, enjoying their work and continuing to learn on the job.
     The WIT group meets twice each term for women to network with one another, hear from former students and employers about what to expect after they graduate, and give each other support during their time at Lane.  Plans for future meetings include tearing apart and rebuilding computers, and having a session on women negotiating salaries.
     The next WIT group meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 29th from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.  Look for flyers around campus.  For more infor-mation, contact Mari Good at ext. 2838, or LaRosa, ACCESS Advisor, at ext. 2722.

STUDENT HEALTH ADDS BENEFITS
     Because Student Health is a subcontractor for Planned Parenthood, an FPEP grant has been awarded and new reproductive health services are now available for students.  Eligibility is based on being low income, pre-menopausal and under the age of 56, a resident of Oregon, and a US citizen.  Free services through this plan include an annual exam and pap smear, birth control pills, condoms, pregnancy tests, and STD exams.  Students also have access to free mammograms funded by the American Cancer Society.
     In addition to the above benefits, Student Health is now filling some prescriptions.  They have stocked thirty of the most frequently used medications and will dispense them to the student at cost.

Fall 2000 Calendar

Oct. 31, Tuesday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Women’s Center Halloween Open House

Nov. 11, Saturday Noon - Midnight  Mother Kali’s 25th Gala Birthday

Nov. 14, Tuesday 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Women Starting College Workshop

Nov. 16, Thursday 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Brown Bag: “Unplugging the Holidays”

Nov. 16, Thursday 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  Scholarship Workshop

Nov. 29, Wed. 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Women in Information Technology

Dec. 5, Tuesday 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Brown Bag: TBA

Dec. 14, Thursday 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Transitions to Success Graduation

For more information about any of these events, contact the Women’s Center at (541) 463-5353 or drop by Center Building 213, Main Campus.