2025 Scholarship Awards and Banquet

AAUW members gathered on April 29, 2025 at Dickinson College Holland Union Building to honor seven Higher Education Scholarship recipients.  Members of the Scholarship Committee introduced the recipients, who shared their future plans and thanked the membership for the support of their educational pursuits.  A common theme was that the scholarships represented not only financial support, but a sense of belonging and validation of their educational pursuits.

2025 Scholarship recipients are:

Leah Allewelt, a Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences major at Penn State.  She is recipient of the Perry County Scholarship sponsored by an AAUW member who lives in Perry County.

Dinela Dedic, an Environmental Science major (concentration in Food Studies) and Art minor at Dickinson College.  Dinela already contributes to the cultural color and serenity of the Carlisle community through her colorful murals and musical compositions.

Parmilla Dhimal, a Bio-Behavioral Health major at Penn State Harrisburg.  She currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves, and plans to continue her studies in Public Health, attend medical school, and become a doctor.

Morgan Koch, a Computer Science major at Penn state Erie. Morgan has a keen interest in Artificial Intelligence and hopes to set an example for other women to overcome gender prejudice as a leader in this field.

Arisha Tariq, attending Penn State College of Medicine, class of 2027.  While studying with the Penn State Global Health Program in Ghana, she learned the importance of clean water and safe food, and hopes to practice medicine locally and impact healthcare in Central PA, particularly women’s health access.

Lydia Kramer, an Early Childhood Education major, minoring in English as a Second language at Millersville University.  She is the recipient of the Marjorie M. Mowery Scholarship, honoring Marjie Mowery, longtime member and leader of AAUW Carlisle and AAUW Pennsylvania.

Amy Orner, Penn State Ph. D. candidate, studying the development of Edinburgh, Scotland from its medieval Old Town origins to the planned streets of the New Town. Amy is the recipient of the Boytim-Rambo Scholarship, honoring Joan Boytim, vocal instructor and musical scholar, and Judge Sylvia Rambo, two women from the Carlisle area who passed away in December 2024.

2024 AAUW Carlisle Scholarship Recipients

On April 23 at 6 pm in the Holland Union Building on the Dickinson College campus, we shared a festive banquet with friends, family, and food.  Thanks to the generosity of our membership, we awarded scholarships to five exceptional women who have demonstrated academic achievement and a deep commitment to their areas of study.  This year, we expanded and began accepting applications from Perry County students and are proud to have a Perry County resident join the accomplished group who call Cumberland County home.

The recipients of $2000 scholarships include previous awardees:
Lily Bistline (Loyola University of Maryland, Psychology)
Lauren Stroup (Wilson College, Nursing)

We welcome new recipients:
Rebekah Becker (Marywood University, Nutrition & Dietetics)
Colleen Lesher (Liberty University, (Ed. D, Education & Educational Psychology)
Iman Muhammad (HACC, Nursing)

AAUW members and the guests of the honorees appreciated the remarks offered by each of our recipients as they described their accomplishments and future ambitions.  Clearly, they echo the AAUW mission in their current lives and in their future careers.

2023
Lily Bistine, Psychology, Loyola University.
Samantha Martin, Political Science, Public Policy, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Gettysburg College.
Claire Stoner, Master’s CPA degree, Palumbo-Donahue School of Business.
Luren Stroup, Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, Wilson College.

2022
Meta Bowman, Master’s in Social Work, Shippensburg University.
Clair Stoner, Accounting, Duquesne University.
Samantha Martin, Political Science, Public Policy, and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Gettysburg College.

2021 
Meta Bowman, Master of Social Work, Shippensburg University.
Bailey Jones, Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh.
Makenzie Sayers, Family & Consumer Science Education, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Claire Stoner, Accounting, Duquesne University.

2020
Meta Bowman, Master’s Degree in Social Work, Shippensburg University.
Angelica Brill, Community Environment & Development, Penn State University, University Park.
Madeleine Davis, majors-Environmental Sustainability, minors-Psychology & Spanish, Shippensburg University.
Gabrielle Dietrich, Social Work, Shippensburg University.
Bailey Jones, Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh.
Megan Rozmajzl, Physician Assistant, Salus University.

2019
Johanna Bear, Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and Theatre, Franklin & Marshall College.
Bailey Jones, Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh.
Makayla Glass, Accounting, John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University.
Darien Kase, Pediatric Nursing, Penn State University. 
Carlie Antes, Art therapy combined with psychology, Marywood University, Lt. Col. Edward J. “Woodie” Collins Memorial Scholarship.

2018
Makayla Glass, Accounting, John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University.
Darien Kase, Pediatric nursing, Penn State University.
Rebekah Vensel, Major Music Industry, Loyola University in New Orleans.
Ciera Rhodes, Nursing, Wilson College, Yeun Yen Lee Wong Memorial Scholarship.
The Yeun Yen Lee Wong Memorial Scholarship, was introduced. Dr. Lillian Wong, and AAUW Carlisle member, offered the scholarship in honor and in memory of her mother who valued education though she herself lacked any formal education. The scholarship hopes to reflect the impact and importance of education for women and girls. This scholarship is given to a candidate who graduated with a STEM degree and is currently pursuing a second degree in a health field.

2017
Alyssa Jones, Physician’s Assistant Program, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine.
Ciera Rhodes, Nursing, Wilson College.
Morgan Seifert, Elementary & Early Childhood Education, Penn State University.
Alexandria Shope , Communications Design, Kutztown University.
Lynn Finkenbinder, Food Service, Penn State University, Joann B. Ketterer Memorial Scholarship.
AAUW Carlisle presented a Memorial Scholarship honoring Joann B. Ketterer, a branch member and past membership co-chair.  A resident of Newville, she was a Penn State University graduate, and taught Home Economics at Shippensburg High School and the Adams County Extension Office.  Active in the Pennsylvania and Cumberland County Farm Women, the Shippensburg Fair Exhibitors and the Future Home Economics of America, Joann was an enthusiastic supporter of the AAUW Branch scholarship program.

2016
Alyssa Jones, Physician Assistant, Penn State College of Medicine.
Miranda Clash, Early Childhood Education, Elizabethtown College.
Kelsey Dutka, Pharmacy, Duquesne University.
Crystal Van, Marketing, Temple University.