2023 Lifelong Learner Scholarship Award Recipients

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Iryna Berestenko: Today, I am standing in front of you to share my story. I am an immigrant, mother, and a student. When I came to the United States in 2001, I was an excited young woman without education. I did not complete high school in my home country. I married very early, and I moved to the United States without any plans. I think I just got lucky to end up in the land of opportunities. My inspiration is my kids and people around me. Since I started my educational journey, my life has changed 360 degrees. I meet supportive professors, mentors, and tutors. I made friends that teach and uplift me. I became an educated, strong woman that is thirsty for new knowledge. First, I dreamed about finishing high school and now I dream about a master's degree. Education has become my passion. I want to thank the Business Women's Network of Howard County for awarding me the Life Learning Scholarship. I am excited to be here with all of you to celebrate.

God bless you and the United States of America for the opportunities!

VIEW IRYNA'S VIDEO

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Amy Bram: As a second career nurse-to-be I have one chance to get this right. School is hard, rewarding work. Worrying about housing and food distracts from that work. Being supported by the Business Women’s Network of Howard County allows me to put my focus where it needs to be, bringing me closer to improving lives through healthcare.

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K: At 14 years old I entered the foster care system, and I moved around at least 2 to 3 times a year. Often my credits for school did not transition smoothly which meant I was repeating several classes. I barely managed to graduate from high school but still it was a huge accomplishment considering the amount of instability I had. I recently began working towards an associate degree in social sciences at Howard Community College. I am enjoying school and the stability that comes with attending one school. During my first semester I got As in both of my classes. This scholarship will further create more stability for me because I will be able to focus solely on academic achievement and I will not have to limit my class load due to financial limitations. Your generosity will allow me to have the needed materials and thrive in school. This scholarship will help me to reach my end career goal of becoming a pregnancy/adoption counselor and without accruing major debt. I hope to help many women in the future and provide support to them as they go through challenging times. Providing me with this scholarship helps make that happen! I am tremendously grateful for the BWN organization, the generosity of the individual donors, and the financial stability that this creates for me. I hope to see this organization grow, continue to touch lives of young women, and even be a donor myself one day. 

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Tiahna Graham

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Evelyn Kwakye: Thank you BWN Scholarship Foundation for the scholarship. Awarding me this scholarship will make a positive impact on my study at Howard Community College. It will enable me to gain the skills needed to stay competitive and marketable while improving the quality of my life, that of my family and that of the community.

Catherine Mugasha: I would like to thank you for the scholarship from BWN. I am currently a single mom of an 8-year-old son. I am currently going into the last/4th semester of nursing school. This scholarship would help me in meeting my tuition expenses and enabling me to become a nurse.

Melanie Ventura: Unlike many children, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. However, I loved playing teacher with my friends. It didn’t hit me until I put my first child in daycare and ended up working at the daycare as a teacher’s assistant. I fell in love with teaching and the children! I am now employed as a Para with HCPSS. By this time next year, I intend to receive my AA in Elementary Education. This scholarship will enable me to go back to school and finish what I started.

Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Abidemi Wahab: As a grateful beneficiary, I wholeheartedly express my gratitude for the invaluable support of this wonderful organization. The transformative opportunities provided enhance individuals’ lives and foster collective growth for the organization. Through your assistance, a brighter future is nurtured, empowering us to reach new heights.