P.E.O. Chapter JI Sponsored Anna Spiers, a P.E.O. Scholar Award Recipient!

 

We celebrate Anna Spiers as being a recipient of a P.E.O. Scholar Award this year!

About Anna Spiers
- Ph.D. Candidate, CU, Boulder, Dept. of Ecology and Environmental Biology
- Planned Graduation: Spring 2023
- Undergrad in Mathematics with goal to take “fear” out of math for young girls
- Coached High School Cross Country
- Trekked solo through Peru to study medicinal plants
- Worked on farm in Tuscany
- Research Overview: Study how organisms respond to environmental disturbances and how to forecast their response before it happens.
- Career goals: To either work for the government; US Geological Survey or a non-profit, The Nature Conservancy

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Below is an excerpt from an email that Anna Spiers sent to Kathie Burson, sharing part of the notification that she had been selected.

Dear Anna Spiers:

Congratulations!  You are one of the 100 women out of 775 nominees selected to receive a $20,000 P.E.O. Scholar Award for the 2022-2023 academic year. Being selected as a P.E.O. Scholar is a prestigious addition to your outstanding record.  Your scholarly excellence, academic achievement, and worthwhile career goals speak to your ability to make a significant contribution to your field.

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Kathie Burson's Comment: "WOW-WHEE, GALS! We did it! We helped this amazing young woman get significant help on her path to making our world a better place! Special thanks to the Growth Committee for everything they did to make this possible."

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Belinda Alkula's Comment: "What Just Incredible News!!! Yes, a very special thank you to the members of our chapter's Growth Committee for orchestrating Anna's successful application for this very prestigious award! 

Sisters, our loving concern for one another ... and ... our commitment to the ideals, principles, and core values of the P.E.O. Sisterhood result in tangible ways we are making a difference in our lives and in the lives of women in our orbit! Brava!

Celebrating Arrival of Marguerite's Grandson Kayden!

 

We celebrate the joyful news of the arrival of Marguerite's grandson Kayden. He was born last month in Sulfuric, Louisiana. His birth mother loved him so much that she chose Marguerite's daughter and her husband to become Kayden's parents. Kayden is one blessed little boy, to be sure!

Congratulations to Marguerite and her family!

Every Day Blessings

Book Club Gathering

It was so wonderful to be able to meet in person again! Eleven of us gathered in Joyce Kozeliski's lovely home for a lively discussion on her book selection: “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict. (To view a 5-minute interview with the authors, click here.)

We were thrilled that Beth Herbert and Judy Trautwein participated in the conversation, as our honored guests.

The next gathering will be Wednesday, May 4 at Annette Oakley's home, when we discuss her selection: “The Last Midwife” by Sandra Dallas.

Questions or comments about our book club may be directed to Vicky Hughes via email or text.

Molly McDermott's PhD Public Talk

 

Molly McDermott Giving Public Talk at CU-Boulder and On Zoom

Molly McDermott's Acknowledgements of Groups Sponsoring Her Educational Journey

$150,000 in Grants

Some of our Sisters were able to Zoom in, as Molly gave her public talk about her work on her PhD dissertation at The University of Colorado Boulder today. It was a privilege for our chapter to sponsor and encourage her on her journey. She was a P.E.O. Scholar Award recipient in 2020.

In-person Executive Board Meeting Today!

 

The officers of P.E.O. Chapter JI met at Annette Oakley's home for their first-ever in-person Executive Board meeting today. Previous meetings had been held via Zoom, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So many exciting things are being planned! Stay tuned!

Surprise Puppy Shower for Annette Oakley's New Puppy

 
Annette Oakley Opening Presents for Ms. Pepper

Specially Decorated "People" Cookies

Ms. Pepper with One of Her New Toys

Adorable Ms. Pepper

Judy Lawrence Playing with Ms. Pepper

Hostess Maggie McDonnell had the fun idea to surprise Annette with a "puppy shower" today! And Annette seemed to be really surprised!

Thanks to Jim Oakley, Ms. Pepper made an appearance at her shower. She appeared happy to get to know everyone. And everyone was delighted to spend time with this energetic, playful, loving puppy!