Scholarships awarded to five women in an effort to make college more affordable
INDIANAPOLIS — The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Foundation today announced it has awarded $6,000 in scholarships to five sorority women, as part of NPC’s efforts to make college more affordable. The 2019 NPC Foundation scholarship award recipients are:
- Lauren Diercks, Alpha Chi Omega, University of Kansas
- Emily Dircks, Alpha Omicron Pi, Indiana State University
- Lindsey Lecus, Chi Omega, Carroll University and Ball State University
- Leila Tou, Sigma Delta Tau, Nova Southeastern University and Florida Atlantic University
- Ellen Wegener, Alpha Sigma Tau, Central Michigan University
“Every year, selecting the NPC Foundation scholarship recipients is a challenging task due to the quality of applications we receive,” said Ann Brookshire, member of Pi Beta Phi and president of the NPC Foundation Board of Trustees. “This year was no different as we received nearly 200 scholarship applications to consider for awards. In addition to being dedicated scholars, the 2019 scholarship award recipients possess strong leadership skills and have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the sorority experience.”
“On behalf of the Foundation, I would like to wish all of the recipients well for the upcoming academic year,” Brookshire added. “I’d also like to thank the 17 sorority alumnae volunteers who helped review applications. Additionally, the Foundation is grateful to the organizations and individuals who continue to help us expand the number of scholarships we can award. We appreciate your support of NPC’s efforts regarding the sorority experience and college affordability.”
More about each scholarship and its recipient follows.
Betty Mullins Jones/Alpha Phi Scholarship
Lauren Diercks, Alpha Chi Omega, is the recipient of the Betty Mullins Jones/Alpha Phi Scholarship. The Betty Mullins Jones/Alpha Phi Scholarship was established by the Alpha Phi Foundation to honor Betty Mullins Jones’ commitment to NPC. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a collegiate Panhellenic woman who has worked to further her fraternal community’s reputation on her campus and who embodies the values of sisterhood, philanthropy and scholarship. Diercks is majoring in marketing and pre-med at the University of Kansas. She makes a difference in sorority life by encouraging College Panhellenic women to support the philanthropic efforts of a local organization that fosters friendship and inclusion between individuals with and without disabilities, and she serves on the organization’s board of directors. She also has worked with College Panhellenic leaders to promote and encourage member participation an alternative spring break volunteer opportunity.
Lauren Diercks says of her work with the alternative spring break project, “This increased participation of sorority members in the organization, and added variety to the type of service Panhellenic members were experiencing.”
Carole Jurenko Jones Scholarship
Emily Dircks, Alpha Omicron Pi, is the recipient of the Carole Jurenko Jones Scholarship, established by Alpha Omicron Pi to honor Carole Jurenko Jones’ commitment to NPC, including serving as the 2017-19 NPC chairman. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a sorority woman who has served in a chapter or Panhellenic leadership role. Dircks will graduate in 2020 from Indiana State University with a bachelor of science degree in biology. She has been involved in tutoring, serving as a research assistant, participating in the Pre-medicine Association, serving in leadership roles for State Dance Marathon and assisting with new student move-in. She has served her College Panhellenic as recruitment counselor and vice president of standards.
Emily Dircks says of her Panhellenic involvement, “Through these positions, I have been able to learn more about Indiana State University’s Panhellenic community. I have been able to meet and connect with many Panhellenic women and gain perspective on how each chapter operates in order to serve them to the best of my abilities. I have become a stronger leader thanks to the Panhellenic Association, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities I have received throughout my collegiate career so far.”
Elizabeth Ahlemeyer Quick/Gamma Phi Beta Scholarship
Ellen Wegener, Alpha Sigma Tau, is the recipient of the Elizabeth “Betty” Ahlemeyer Quick/Gamma Phi Beta Scholarship. This scholarship was established to honor Betty Quick’s long and devoted service to NPC and Gamma Phi Beta. This $2,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a sorority woman who has displayed outstanding service to her local College Panhellenic. Wegener is majoring in communication sciences and disorders at Central Michigan University. She has served her collegiate chapter as secretary, parliamentarian and president and currently is the director of internal programming for the College Panhellenic. She serves her campus community, assisting with new student orientation activities and facilitating sessions during a campus-based leadership conference. She also volunteers at a local elementary school as a reading and math tutor and at a local nursing home where she provides sensory therapy and companionship to residents with dementia.
“I demonstrate the fine standards of a Panhellenic woman in my everyday actions,” said Ellen Wegener. “I take a heavy course load, volunteer weekly and give as much as I can to my chapter, Panhellenic community and university. I serve my college community through my leadership roles and involvements on campus.”
Mary Louise Roller Scholarship
Lindsey Lecus, Chi Omega, is the recipient of the Mary Louise Roller Scholarship, which was funded by a grant from Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity in honor of Mrs. Roller’s 33-year tenure on Alpha Omicron Pi’s Panhellenic delegation. The Mary Louise Roller Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship for an undergraduate woman who plans to attend graduate school the following fall. Lecus graduated in May 2019 from Carroll University with a bachelor of science in marketing. She plans to attend Ball State University in the fall to attain a master of arts in student affairs administration in higher education. While an undergraduate, Lecus served two years on her College Panhellenic Council and worked in the Fraternity & Sorority Life department.
“Throughout my years as an active sorority woman, I have developed a passion for working with Greek students and my role on my College Panhellenic Council gave me a place to grow this love,” said Lindsey Lecus. “From working on relationship building programs to installing the first philanthropy, my time allowed me to fall head over heels into sorority life and realize how much I truly loved each moment of it … After I complete my graduate degree, I plan on pursuing a position that will allow me to develop programming initiatives for sorority women across the world.”
Sigma Kappa Courage and Conviction Scholarship
Leila Tou, Sigma Delta Tau, is the recipient of the Sigma Kappa Courage and Conviction Scholarship, funded by Sigma Kappa to honor Donna Crain King’s service as 2015-17 NPC chairman. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a sorority woman who has displayed significant service or contributions to her chapter, university or community at large and demonstrated noteworthy “courage and conviction.” Tou graduated in May 2019 from Nova Southeastern University where she majored in biology. She has been accepted to study medicine at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University. As an undergraduate, Tou served the College Panhellenic community as a recruitment counselor, vice president of scholarship and vice president of recruitment. She also was involved in other organizations, including Health Occupations Students of America.
“To me, having courage and conviction means being able to do what is right even when you are faced with difficult circumstances,” said Leila Tou. “It is important to act with conviction, integrity, and have the courage to do so even if it is out of the spotlight or against what others believe … I know that I will carry these values to my next journey in medical school and onwards in my future career as a physician.”
About the National Panhellenic Conference Foundation
Established in 1995, the National Panhellenic Conference Foundation promotes values and ethics for sorority women and encourages all members to be active and responsible leaders in their communities. The Foundation’s mission is supported through the sponsorship of NPC educational and charitable programs. (npcwomen.org/foundation)
About the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
NPC, one of the largest organizations advocating for women, is the umbrella group for 26 national and international sororities. NPC sororities are located on more than 670 campuses with over 400,000 undergraduate members in 3,350 chapters. Alumnae are represented in more than 3,650 associations throughout the world. For more information, including a complete list of NPC sororities, visit npcwomen.org or find NPC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
