FOUR WOMEN WILL PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION WITH A BOOST FROM THE AAUW SCHOLARSHIP FUND

By Judy Murphy

Two first-time applicants and two students who have received AAUW scholarships previously were awarded mini-grants to enable them to study at the Community College of Vermont this fall.

The program was designed to help non-traditional women, many of whom had interrupted their education because of raising a family, financial considerations and other barriers. Since the Scholarship Fund began in 2007, Bennington Branch members have awarded a total of $58,814. Fifty-five different students have benefitted from 115 one-semester awards.

As you read about the most recent awards, you will learn how much these scholarships mean to recipients.

Cassandra M. Furciniti, 33, of Bennington, is working toward an Associate Degree in Business Management. She will receive her eighth scholarship, this time for $600. She hopes to graduate in June of 2023. While her three courses (Business Management, Financial Counseling, and Micro Economics) were covered by her Pell grant and state grants, she needed help with textbooks and childcare for her two younger children aged 6 and 4. She also has two teenagers aged 14 and 16 and needs to pay for an internet connection.

In an essay accompanying her scholarship application, Ms. Furciniti wrote:

“It’s been a tough and exciting year as the General Manager of the Best Western Bennington. With Covid restrictions lifting, we have been getting busier and busier. With the help of my head housekeeper, I have been implementing changes that will lessen the workload of my team and a happy team means a happy hotel.

“In March I went to Minnesota for a leadership course through Best Western. It was a required course in order for me to be certified as general manager and keep my position. I learned so much from the class. I am a more laid back and relaxed boss, whereas for some employees I need to be firmer. I have changed the way I train each different employee; I focus on their actions and then react in a better way. I have one employee who cannot learn without a hands-on approach, so instead of telling them how to do something, I now show them and then walk them through it as they do it. I am enjoying learning as I go and implementing new techniques that I have learned from my classes and my trainings with Best Western.”

Ms. Furciniti received high praise from Alyson Grzyb, who met her while teaching Introduction to Early Childhood Education in the spring of 2018. This was when Cassie began her college career as a young mother with a toddler and another baby on the way. She got to know Cassie better over the last two years as she sent her children to the Bennington Early Childhood Center, where Ms. Grzyb is the Director.

“Despite having her hands full, Cassie was an excellent student. She completed all her work in a timely manner, participated in classroom discussions, and showed a strong desire for learning and furthering her education,” she wrote in a recommendation. “Cassie not only shows a great interest in furthering her own education but she also shows a desire for her children to be well-educated and thrive in society. When I think of ideal scholarship recipients I think of individuals who work hard and strive to be the best they can be. To me, Cassie fits that description perfectly, and I wish to recommend her to receive a scholarship from the Bennington Branch of AAUW.”

Jacklyn Call, who first met Cassie through the Bennington Rural Fire Department in 2019, wrote that during the past semester in the spring of 2022, “Cassie not only took two classes, she planned a wedding, was the mother of four children, worked a full-time job, and still found time to volunteer with the fire department.” She went on to say, “While all this was on Cassie’s work load, she was still there for me when I needed it most. When I was homeless and had nowhere else to go, Cassie opened up her home for me to have a safe place to stay. I am recommending Cassie for this scholarship; she always puts everyone around her before herself. She works hard for her education; this scholarship would help her achieve her goal.”

In a letter of appreciation Ms. Furciniti wrote:

“I would like to thank the Bennington Branch of AAUW committee for the scholarship I was awarded. I would also like to specially thank Jennifer Kern. She has been so understanding and helpful during this time for me. I had a lot going on with getting married and she was patient and kept reminding me of everything I needed in order to get the scholarship. She truly is an asset to the committee. Sincerely, Cassie Furciniti.”

Ellisa Mattison, 31, of Pownal, mother of two children ages 8 and 9, is majoring in Early Childhood Education at CCV. She has been awarded a scholarship of $500, her fourth from AAUW.

Although the three courses she will be taking (Child Development, Introduction to Psychology, and Introduction to Case Management), are covered by Vermont Workforce Investment Funds, her textbooks are not covered, and they are expensive. She also will be paying for an internet connection and printer equipment.

Mrs. Mattison is a sewer at Portages Brace, where her husband also works in production. She hopes to graduate in 2023.

As she said in her application letter,

“I have been going to school for almost five years with working full-time and being a wife and a parent. I am not going to lie, it has been a struggle sometimes to be able to balance everything in my life. This summer I made a hard choice to move jobs until I am done with school to be able to juggle it all better. I took a pay cut to be able to still spend time with my family and be able to complete my dream of finishing school. Since having children, I always told myself that I am going to show my children they can do anything no matter what it is, to reach for the stars no matter how hard it may be, it will work out in one way or another. I love working with children and watching them learn and grow and to be a part of their life. My goal one day is to have my Bachelor’s degree in special education and to work in the school system later in life,”

Mrs. Mattison enjoys gardening with her children. “Every year around the end of May we begin our garden. When planting, the kids and I talk about how all the prices are increasing a lot which is making it harder for people to buy because everything in the world is jumping in pricing. When eating dinner sometimes the kids may not like what we are having but they will eat it and if the other is saying they do not like it, one of my children will say, “Well be happy with what we have to eat. Some people cannot afford this right now.”

Jen Gardner, a colleague of Ellisa for two years, wrote that “her passion for teaching showed through her work in the classroom. Ellisa prided herself with her work and always did her absolute best for the children. When I first met Ellisa, she radiated this energy that was so powerful and positive, even in the toughest of situations. She maintained composure, professionalism and respect to those around her, especially the children. Awarding her this scholarship will help her alleviate the costs that she is accumulating to obtain her degree in ECE. I think we can all agree that someone like Ellisa is dearly needed in the education field. I personally feel she would be an excellent choice.”

Marsha Kuhn was Ellisa’s instructor in Computer Applications at CCV in the spring of 2022. “Throughout the course, we covered information about literacy, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, internet research, and file management,” she stated in a letter of recommendation. “Ellisa was highly engaged in the weekly forums, conscientious, and hard working. Her assignments were well done and submitted in a timely manner. She also aced the mid-term and final exams. I am confident that Ellisa will be successful in continuing her college studies and that the AAUW Scholarship would be of great benefit to her.”

Mrs. Mattison wrote:

“Dear Bennington Branch Members, Thank you so much for accepting me for this scholarship and helping me pursue my dream and finish my degree. My whole family is so grateful for all that you do for women going back to school for what they love to do. If it was not for you I would have had to wait until I came up with the funds myself to be able to afford what I need to go to college. Thanks so much. Ellisa Mattison.”

Irma Shortsleeve, 48, of Shaftsbury is an assistant teacher substitute at Bennington Early Childhood Center. At age 48, she has made the decision to return to college with the goal of completing an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and then go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with a minor in special education. The three courses she will be taking are all paid for by state grants for those studying early childhood education. Her only expense will be textbooks and an AAUW Scholarship of $200 will cover that cost.

In an application letter to the Scholarship Committee, Mrs. Shortsleeve stated:

“As an individual with a learning disability and being autistic, life has not always been easy. Children need someone that they can depend on to trust, confide in, and feel safe around. I want to create an environment for the betterment and inclusion of all children regardless of their ability to learn. It is we as teachers that have to adapt our ways of teaching to support their unique ways of learning.”

Cody Miller, Coordinator of Student Advising at CCV attested to Irma’s passion in her recommendation. She had met Mrs. Shortsleeve in mid-March as they worked together to create a student success plan. She wrote: “Irma returned to CCV in spring of 2022. She had worked in early childhood education. I was struck by her excitement to engage with staff and other students in the program. Irma demonstrated a clear understanding of how non-academic factors can affect a student’s ability to successfully complete coursework. She also impressed me at the TRIO gatherings by driving the event’s conversations. (Note: TRIO refers to three programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support.)

“I would describe Irma as curious, passionate, and responsible. She demonstrated curiosity during a question-and-answer session with a student who has been in the program for over a year. Irma’s passion sticks out to me in our discussions about her career goal because she always brings the conversations back to wanting to help children. Lastly, Irma has proven to be extremely responsible by thoroughly preparing for our meetings. She always has notes written out beforehand, and this helps to ensure that we address all her questions and concerns.”
Rachel Tidwell, who worked with Irma at the Bennington Early Childhood Center, spoke of Mrs. Shortsleeve’s support of young children with diverse abilities. In a three page letter she described her many skills.

In one example Ms. Tidwell described three children, one was extremely active with some speech issues, the second child had no true speech usage and had some diagnosed physical needs around walking, and the third was also in process of diagnosis and nonverbal…The best example I can give occurred on the outside playground when Irma was working with and encouraging two children mentioned above to utilize an obstacle course set up using wooden dowels to secure pool noodles into arches (for crawling under) and low planks to step over and cones to go around. She not only physically attempted the course herself but walked with them as they attempted and cheered them on as they became more confident in their ability to complete. She documented the abilities and needs of the students and was able to pass this along to the child’s specialist for PT and OT, as well as insert it in the file for future developmental considerations when the children move up into a new class. “Irma gives 100 percent each day to her class and exhibits a solid passion to improve and help the children grow and develop in the appropriate speed they need,” she concluded.

In an essay to the Scholarship Committee, Mrs. Shortsleeve described her passion.

“I have six grandchildren and they are my world. I love going on adventures with them, I have books I’ve collected since my first grandchild was born, and that is one of our favorite pastimes. When we are winding down from going on our adventures looking for frogs or worms or looking at different birds, we like to sit and have grandma read them a story. Our singing is a riot. I have always found that songs that make one get up and shake and move is the best way to help children learn. We also sing and do several things in my native language which they love! My grandchildren are my joy.”

Irma wrote after hearing the news about the scholarship,

“Saying thank-you does not emphasize the gratitude and appreciation that you have bestowed upon me, I am truly thankful for the generosity that you, the members, take to help those in need. The Scholarship will help me take one step closer to achieving my life-time goal, and for that I will always hold you in the utmost regard. Being able to go back to school after so many years away, not only for myself, but to show my grandchildren that it is never too late to achieve one’s goals and to learn new and exciting things. Children are our future, I want to be able to not only teach them to the best of my ability but learn from them too. Thank you sincerely, Irma Shortsleeve.”

Carol Ruperti, 47, of Bennington, is returning to college to study for an Associate’s Degree in Web and Digital Interface Design. In her first semester at CCV she earned B’s in all of her courses. The tuition for her two courses is covered by grants and an AAUW Scholarship of $550 will help to pay for internet fees, textbooks and prescription eyeglasses. She graduated from a Vocational Technical High School in Graphic Communications in 1993. However, with the many technological advances in the field since that time, Ms. Ruperti needed new skills to be employable.

Ms. Ruperti is an Ecuadorian/American whose father was born and raised in Manta, Ecuador. She and her daughter hope to visit her father and his wife once she graduates. In an essay written for the scholarship application, she wrote,

“My life changed for the worse after I lost my brother and mom 6 months apart from each other in 2007 from cancer. I needed to step up and take better care of myself. I was struggling for many years, but I am in a better place now. I live life to the fullest every day because we do not know what tomorrow will bring.”

In a recommendation, Eric Webster, a Vocational Counselor for HireAbility of Vermont, wrote “Carol first connected with me in August 2021 when she applied for services with my office. Since then, she has navigated a plan from trying to sort out employment possibilities toward taking the courageous step of starting a college career as an adult. I strongly endorse Carol for this scholarship.”

Melany Letourneau, WIOA Case Manager at the Vermont Department of Labor, has known Carol for ten years. She wrote, “Carol has worked hard at everything that comes her way. Her motivation to continue to grow and be a good influence in our community is strong. Carol is someone who helps others, includes others, and values integrity, and honesty. She doesn’t give up, isn’t judgmental, and she pushes through.”

Ms. Letourneau strongly supports the career path Ms. Ruperti has chosen. “It will use her creativity, require her motivation and determination. The skills she will learn will lead to employment that she will be able to support herself with. With the current Labor Market in our region, I do not expect Carol to struggle with employment once she has completed her degree.”

Shelley Adriance is Coordinator of Student Studies at CCV and serves as Ms. Ruperti’s academic advisor. She wrote that “Carol is a committed student who loves to learn. As a first-generation college student, she has worked hard and has grown tremendously as a student this past semester. She has focused her initial coursework on her writing skills to support her success in her coursework in the semesters ahead. She has been committed to doing well and to using the resources to support her success. She is fully engaged in discussions, respectful and has shown great determination to succeed. She communicates regularly with her instructors to gain as much as she can from the learning, and she produces a solid effort of work in return. I believe that she is a wonderful candidate for your consideration.”

Once she learned of the scholarship she immediately wrote:

“Hello Branch Members, I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the AAUW scholarship that I received. I deeply appreciate your support, time and attention and am most grateful for all the opportunities that I have been given in life. Now I have a different vision of my future and how all my hard work will pay off. I will finally have an Associate Degree that I have earned for a better way of life. Thank you, Carol Ruperti.”

Book and Scholarship Funds Combine

The Scholarship Committee, in consultation with Mary Feidner, decided to combine the Book Award Fund and the Scholarship Fund. The Book Fund was set up eleven years ago in memory of Marge Carter, a member who organized the book club. Mary has collected these funds in past years.

Textbooks are expensive and often the committee needs to use the Scholarship Funds to cover the cost of books. It didn’t make sense to have two separate funds. Book group members will still be able to contribute, of course.

The Scholarship Committee

The Scholarship Committee has been chaired by Jennifer Kern since it began in 2007. Jennifer consults with CCV about how much money each applicant will be awarded from Pell and VSAC or other grants. She also speaks personally with each applicant, encouraging them to meet the requirements of the application and reminding them of deadlines.

Other members, who have also been on the committee since it began, are Gudrun Hutchins and Judy Murphy. The three members review the applications and meet to determine how much each student needs to be able to continue their education.

Jennifer calls each student with the good news about how much they will receive and notifies the college. The AAUW checks are sent to the college which then places the awards into each student’s account.

This committee is interested in recruiting new members. To learn more about how you can help, please contact one of the members.

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