The TWA Women’s Scholarship Committee is pleased to
present the five winners for 2018-19. Standing from left to right are: Neha Paragi, Melissa Collins, Lindsay Gawthrop, Claudia
Chabay, and Madeline Purvis. We are
very proud of them and their accomplishments and wish them all the best in
their future endeavors.
Claudia Chabay is a senior at
Troy High. She listed over 1400 service hours and is a member of the National
Honor Society. Claudia’s essay was about her grandmother who was raised under
the communist regime in Eastern Europe and became a physician, battled breast
cancer, emigrated to the US and through her drive to succeed still works at a
doctor’s office at age 70+. Claudia learned grace, empathy and determination
from her and hopes to someday be someone else’s role model. Claudia has been
accepted at Central Michigan University where she will study Kinesiology with a
goal to be a Physician’s Assistant.
Melissa Collins is a senior at
Troy High. She listed over 200 service hours and is a member of the National
Honor Society. Lindsay’s essay detailed the experience of how a severe knee
injury which shattered her dreams of continuing life as an athlete and with it
athletic scholarships, led her to develop strategies to cope with unplanned
events and realize that she was more resilient than she realized. Melissa has
been accepted to Oakland University where she will study the Sciences, her goal
is to be a Radiologist.
Lindsay Gawthrop is a senior at
Troy High. She listed over 800 service hours in her application, many at
Brookdale Senior Living where she continues to volunteer. Lindsay has also
helped us with Elf Shelf. Her essay told of being bullied at the International
school when her father’s job took them to India for a brief time while she was
in 3rd grade, and it taught her to be more compassionate and
empathetic.
Lindsay has applied to the
Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University to study Environmental
Sciences. Lindsay is the eldest granddaughter of TWA Member Nancy Gawthrop.
Madeline Purvis is a senior at
Athens High. She listed over 1000 service hours in her application and is a
member of the National Honor Society and Student Council President. Madeline’s
essay was about Athens High Charity week, where the Student Council plans and
executes a multitude of fundraisers and this year raised over $130,000 for
Focus Detroit. Learning to plan, collaborate, communicate, delegate, and
cooperate while giving back sounds very familiar, doesn’t it! Madeline has been
accepted at the University of Michigan where she will study Aerospace
Engineering.
Neha Paragi is a student at the
University of Michigan where she has a double major in Business Administration
and Industrial & Operations Engineering. She listed over 2000 service hours
in her application and is an Athens High grad where she was Valedictorian,
Class President, NHS President, Co-Coach of the Larson Science Olympiad and
also the co-founder of Swirl Cupcakes, a student-run
501(c)(3) which gives 100% of
proceeds to charity. Neha is the first family member to pursue an undergrad
degree in the US and her Business degree has already helped her mentor the
students running Swirl Cupcakes as Executive Director.
From its beginning the Troy Women's Association has promoted and supported literacy programs. Through the years we have made donations to our elementary school classrooms, our public library, and the Middle School Troybery Reading Project. We have collected books for children in shelters, protective care, and remedial programs. We have provided free tutoring. Literacy is a cause close to our hearts.
