Marion's Kadela receives one of four SIU scholarships from AAUW
CARBONDALE - The Carbondale branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) awarded four scholarships to SIU Carbondale students at the March 21 Celebrate Women event at SIUC's Morris Library.
April Robinson-Kain will be awarded the Lelia Marvin AAUW scholarship. As a divorced, single mother, supporting a three-generation household, one of the winners of the Lelia Marvin scholarship could be viewed as a nontraditional student. She will complete her John A. Logan College degree this spring with high honors and begin her pursuit of a B.A. in History Education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale this fall semester.
April is a leader in all her endeavors: John A. Logan (presidential scholar, all-Illinois academic team, and Phi Theta Kappa honor society president); community (scout leader and job trainer); and church (teacher, pastor assistant and youth leader). April is from Herrin where her mother, Sharon Robinson, lives. She is a highly motivated and tireless worker, April's ultimate goal is to be a history teacher, serving both students and community.
Lauryn Kadela is the winner of a second Lelia Marvin AAUW scholarship. Kadela embodies the values Lelia Marvin embraced in establishing this scholarship. She will receive her high school and John A. Logan degrees concurrently this spring.
Then, she will follow an extended family legacy of attending SIU at Carbondale this fall. Her goal is to pursue a degree in elementary education and, ultimately, obtain a law degree specializing in education law. Her numerous accomplishments include National Honor Society, math and Spanish honor societies, presidential and state scholar, captain of the basketball team and Marion High School high honors for four years.
Further, she has served as a Carnegie Library tutor, FBLA officer, and soup kitchen and animal shelter volunteer. Work experience includes being a guidance secretary, house cleaner, and baby sitter/nanny.
AAUW graduate student scholarship winner, Leah Brandmeyer, after attaining her Physician Assistant Studies degree, hopes to practice in a rural, underserved community. Having earned her B.S. degree in Biological Sciences (cum laude) at SIU in three years, she pursued a medical track that has enabled her to maintain a 4.0 GPA in the PA program.
Subsequent to her undergraduate degree, Leah worked two years as a medical scribe in the emergency room at St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia. Throughout her academic career, Leah has been awarded over a half dozen prestigious scholarships, including the SIU Dean's Scholarship. Volunteer actions encompass assisting at the Women's Center, working in the Food Drive for SU CASA Migrant Camp, and helping to provide a stimulating environment for shelter animals.
Amanda Floray, the AAUW Joyce Kelly Memorial Scholarship, had to place her graduate ambitions on hold for over a dozen years while raising a military family. This single mother of three is now in her first year at the SIU Law School.
Amanda is also pursuing a master's degree in anthropological linguistics. She possesses a B.S. degree in Aviation Business Administration from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida. Her studies greatly restrict the amount of time she works at an outside job.
Eventually, her desire is to specialize in transactional, maritime, aviation, or intellectual property law. At SIU, Amanda volunteers with SIU CESL Conversational Partners, matching non-English speakers with native ones to improve their English proficiency. She also worked with a local nonprofit, Equip for Equality. Formerly, she assisted with the USO, Meals on Wheels, and Kidz Showing Kindness.
Amanda has also served as VP-26 president and hospitality chair. Law school and work supervisors commend her intelligence, initiative, leadership, personality, and drive.