(FLINT, MICH. – JULY 22) The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce today announced the 2011 Katharine Roat Stevens Scholarship Recipients. They are Sarah Caitlin Woods, Ardelia Bailey and Leecia Charese Barnes. The scholarships are awarded annually to competitively selected female seniors with an interest in entrepreneurship who are graduating from Genesee County schools. The scholarships are given annually through the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and managed by the Genesee Chamber Fund, a nonprofit fund-raising arm of the Regional Chamber.
“Katharine Roat Stevens was a business leader with a great desire to help women succeed in business,” said Tim Herman, Regional Chamber CEO. “Her dedication to helping others serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting the dreams of young people. I’m pleased that we are able to help three gifted young women – in a small way – pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations.”
According to Rhetta Hunyady, Group Vice President of Operations and Employer Education and Training this year’s recipients truly exemplify the ideals that fueled the creation of the scholarship fund.
“Whether they dream of baking cakes, building a business or advertising the car of the future, this year’s recipients are very deserving of the Katharine Roat Stevens Scholarship,” said Hunyady. “Each young lady has unique qualities that reflect the spirit of the award and we are so pleased to play a role in their future.”
Sarah Caitlin Woods, the $1,500 scholarship recipient is a senior at Swartz Creek High School. Sarah is an honors student with a 3.75 grade point average (GPA). She is active in drama and vocal music, as well as the Kiwanis Key Club, National Honor Society and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD). As a leader at her school, Sarah led the Power of 100, a school-wide club focused on preventing bullying. She says her entrepreneurial dream is to be a pastry chef with her own bakery.
Flint Southwestern Academy senior Ardelia Bailey is the $1,000 scholarship recipient. An honor student with a 3.88 GPA, Ardelia is a member of the National Honor Society. In addition to the Stevens Scholarship, she has won numerous awards, including the Judge Herman Marable Student of the Month award, the Coca Cola Essay Contest and the Black Women’s Association Essay Contest. According to Ardelia’s essay she wants to one day own an advertising consultant business.
An honor’s student with a 3.98 GPA, Leecia Charese Barnes is the winner of a $500 scholarship. The Beecher High School senior is active in volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, track and served as a majorette with the marching band. She also participates in student council, as well as Youth Leadership Genesee. Her future aspirations include an M.B.A. in business management.
Katharine Roat Stevens was a Genesee County business leader. In 1988, she was the second recipient of the ATHENA Award, an honor bestowed on women who personify professional excellence, actively work to improve the quality of life in the community and actively assist other women in realizing their leadership potential. The ATHENA award is presented in Genesee County each year by the Regional Chamber. In 1993, in memory of Katharine Roat Stevens a scholarship fund was created by the Genesee Chamber Foundation at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.
About the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce
The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce (www.flintandgenesee.org) is the voice of business and community advocacy in Genesee County. The Regional Chamber is over 100 years old, was established before the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and is a founding member of the United States Chamber of Commerce.
Two words describe the Regional Chamber as it enters its second century of service: collaboration and partnership. It is our goal to work with government, business, education and nonprofit organizations to support the growth and development of the community economically, culturally and socially.
About the Community Foundation of Greater Flint
The Community Foundation of Greater Flint serves the common good in Genesee County—building a strong community by engaging people in philanthropy and developing the community’s permanent endowment—now and for generations to come. CFGF helps donors support the causes they care about, today or through their estates. Since 1988 the Community Foundation has granted more than $80 million to nonprofit organizations to build a thriving community. CFGF serves Flint and all of Genesee County including its geographic affiliates in Clio, Davison, Fenton, Flushing and Grand Blanc.