Page 38 - January_2016_Life_In_Naples_Magazine

STEPPING OUT FOR

SCHOLARSHIPS EVENT

BENEFITS WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION

F inding the balance between school, work and • 85 percent of women earn less than $50,000
home is a challenge for many Hodges University • Only 26 percent of women own businesses
students. For the 64 percent of female students • Women hold less than 10 percent of corporate board positions
at Hodges, the challenge becomes greater due to the • Less than 14 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 34 have a
struggle in receiving the financial support needed to bachelor’s degree
pursue a college education. According to the American Association of University Women, in 2014,
“U.S. women working full time, year-round were paid just 79 percent of the U.S.
Hodges student Renee Greer understands that men’s median earnings, which, in Florida, were $40,971 compared to $34,768
struggle all too well, saying, “It was always expected for women.”
of me to go to college, but the financial burden rested In an effort to help students like Greer, Hodges University is hosting
on me.” A native of Naples, Florida, she received her a “Stepping Out for Scholarships” event to benefit the Hodges University
associate degree in teaching at Edison State College. Women in Higher Education Scholarship Fund. The event will be held
Equipped with a dream of teaching psychology, she Saturday, February 13, 2016, from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at the Wyndmere Golf and
realized the need for a bachelor’s degree and applied to Country Club in Naples.
Hodges. “The fact that I can pursue my degree online “This is an elegant affair that celebrates and benefits the 64 percent of the
helps keep me focused. With my schedule, it is very student body attending Hodges University who are women,” said Phil Memoli,
convenient,” she said. Hodges’vice president of university advancement.“Providing financial assistance
to these students as they strive to earn their college degrees ultimately benefits
As a full-time student, she also works 20 hours per all of us in Southwest Florida.”
week, saying, “Money has always been tight, and it According to Dean of Students Marcia Turner, “The first Women in Higher
shouldn’t stop you from getting your degree, but the fear Education scholarships were awarded for the summer 2014 term, and a total of
of loans and years of debt is scary.” 85 female students have received scholarship support totaling $113,500.”
This year’s event will include an elegant dinner, keynote speaker, a live and
Starting at Hodges in January 2014, Greer began silent auction, and the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments and
searching for scholarships to relieve some of the contributions of women. All proceeds from the event are dedicated to the
financial burden. Through Hodges’ scholarship portal financial support for women students at Hodges.
(STARS), she discovered the Women in Higher For more information on the event, including sponsorship information,
Education Scholarship. Meeting the criteria of a 2.0 contact April May at amay@hodges.edu or at 239.598.6153.
GPA and providing an explanation of financial need,
she applied. “When I learned that I received the
scholarship, I immediately ran to tell my mom. I was
so excited,” she said.

Receiving the scholarship not once, but twice, she
admits it has given her the drive she needs to push
through, saying, “Senoritis is a real thing and having that
scholarship, especially this past semester, helped me to
know that I can do this.”

Shifting her passion from teaching psychology to
focusing on forensic work, she plans to pursue a master’s
and doctoral degree after graduating in the spring of
2016. “I want to be able to profile people and work with
youth preventative programs,” she said.

Once she is financially able, she plans to invest in
the education of others because “there should be more
awareness for women in education. We can do more than
just cook and clean, and it is nice when people recognize
our value and worth.”

In May 2015, the Institute for Women’s Policy
Research released its “Status of Women in the States
2015.” For Southwest Florida, the statistics show:

38 Life in Naples | January 2016