The 2025 Scholarship Awards

On Sunday, June 8, Summit College Club members came together with the families of the 2025 scholarship recipients in a joyful celebration at Christ Church's Lile Hall. Over the two-hour reception, we acknowledged the significant accomplishments of these young women, bestowed flowers and checks, and enjoyed refreshments and conversation. Here are some highlights of the day.

First, a slight change of plans. One of this year's recipients, Moira Joel, had to leave the event very early to attend her high school graduation ceremony at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child. So Ellie Redington made a quick adjustment to the program and presented Moira's many accomplishments as the first order of business. Then Ellie handed Moira the traditional rose and the envelope with the scholarship award. After a few quick pictures, Moira and her family departed for their next ceremony, and the Scholarship Reception continued as originally planned.

Lynne Rogerson, our current President, introduced Summit College Club to our guests, describing our programs this year and how we support education for women through our scholarships--including the four we funded earlier this year (two in the fall, two in the spring) for women returning to higher education at the Union College of Union County. Lynne was followed by our Keynote Speaker, Audrey Fisch. Audrey founded the nonprofit More than Bootstraps, which supports first generation and low income students in accessing and succeeding in higher education. You can read her inspiring speech in a separate blog post on our website.

Tanya Dev gave us a surprising take on the college experience, based on her first year at Tufts University

Our reception often includes an address from one of the previous year's scholarship recipients, to tell the new awardees about freshman year. Tanya Dev was awarded the 2024 Tilla Thomas Scholarship and now attends Tufts University. She recently wrote to Summit College Club asking how she could help over the summer. Her speech began by describing her experience on public transportation, and how riding the subway puts one in the company of every possible kind of human being. She compared this to the college experience and urged the new class of scholarship recipients to "be curious" and revel in the possibilities that such diversity offers.

Eden Levkov tells the audience about attending NCCWSL

Next, Eden Levkov, the 2023 recipient of the Tilla Thomas Scholarship, shared her experience of the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), which she attended last month with the support of Summit College Club. NCCWSL offers an opportunity to meet with peer college women, share challenges as well as successes, and hear from women leaders in education, business, and other sectors about leadership, opportunities and challenges. Eden has just completed her sophomore year at Gettysburg College.

Then, each attending member of the Scholarship Committee introduced one of the seven scholarship recipients, describing the young woman's accomplishments -- there were many! -- and handing her a yellow rose and an

Committee member Barbara Sayres reaches out with a warm smile to congratulate Anna Kramarchuk

envelope containing the scholarship award.

Committee member Molly Ball presents Sophia Erickson with a rose and scholarship check

Committee member Susan Abely is delighted to give Ishita Yakav her scholarship award

Carina Pang receives a congratulatory hug from committee member Andrea Stein

Committee co-chair Marylou Motto shares a laugh with Samantha Rose during her award presentation.

Committee co-chair Ellie Redington shares Emma Vachal's many accomplishments

Each young woman's accomplishments left us almost in awe. As Ellie Redington said of one scholar, "Her extracurricular activities make us question whether she sleeps."

Beyond achievements, though, each recipient's personal qualities -- kindness, humility, curiosity, commitment, resilience, grit, and of course leadership, to name just a few -- also defined for us what qualifies a young women to earn a Summit College Club scholarship. It's these personal qualities that will continue to drive their future successes.

And finally, when the last yellow rose and envelope had been handed to one of these outstanding young women, it was time for a few group pictures--and refreshments! Summit College Club members enjoyed talking to the girls and their parents, learning more about them, their families, and their future plans. And perhaps you can tell from the reception pictures, the guests--especially the proud parents--enjoyed talking with us as well!

It was, in short, a joyful celebration: of seven future leaders and of what Summit College Club is all about.