By: Jessica Shorten
CONROE, TX – Twelve Montgomery County seniors received scholarship donations from the Montgomery County Association of Business Women this Tuesday in recognition of their academic achievements and community engagement.
The twelve seniors, all college-bound young women from eight high schools across the County, received a $1,000 scholarship donation courtesy of the Montgomery County Association of Business Women (MCAWB) after making it to the top of a pool of 62 applicants.
“As a former school teacher and school counselor, education is very important to me, and it gives me great pleasure to have MCABW award scholarships to young ladies who want to further their education,” said Carol Gooch, Founder of MCABW. “I want to thank all the sponsors that helped us award 12 scholarships this year to deserving female graduates of Montgomery County high schools.
Due to COVID-19, the MCABW did not have in-person events this year, and were concerned about raising enough funds to award scholarships. However, through donations from a number of sponsors, the MCABW were able to raise enough funds to award $12,000 to deserving seniors:
- Shivani Damu – The Woodlands High School
- Sydney Dwyer – Grand Oaks High School
- Paige Holmes – The Woodlands High School
- Michaela Paris Hynds – Infinity Early College High School
- Berenice Lopez – Caney Creek High School
- Kailey Null – Conroe High School
- Carla Reyes Ortiz – The Woodlands College Park
- Akshara Ramasamy – The Woodlands College Park
- Damaris Sanchez – The Woodlands College Park
- Paulina Sanchez – Caney Creek High School
- Eliszabeth Van – The Woodlands College Park
- Madyson Vaughn – Willis High School
The scholarship program has been in effect for the entire 12 years MCABW has been in operation, offering a total of 86 scholarships to mostly first-generation college students and those with great financial need.
Gooch stated, “As also a mental health therapist I saw many women involved in domestic violence. It became apparent to me that women need to be able to provide for themselves. The MCABW Foundation assists young ladies with an opportunity to further their goals to be financially independent.”
The sponsors who made the scholarships possible include: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Congressman Kevin Brady, Dawn Candy of I Promote You, Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs of The Woodlands Township, Clarity Hearing, Guaranty Bank & Trust, Conroe’s Incredible Pizza, Sheriff Rand Henderson, Gullo Ford, 5Point Credit Union, Bayway Cadillac of The Woodlands, Taylorized PR, Amber Reynolds Bookkeeping, Becky Glass Insurance, Randall Reed Planet Lincoln Ford, Leigh K Freeman Attorney at Law, and Constable Ryan Gable, Precinct 3.