Member Making a Difference: Nancy Paist-Riches, pictured below with Co-President, Beryl Goldman

The Member Making a Difference Award is presented to an affiliate member who has made a significant impact on the affiliate within the past year.  The affiliate selects this recipient because she exemplifies the spirit of AAUW. Beryl Goldman presented this award to Nancy Paist-Riches at the May Banquet in recognition of her many contributions to AAUW WCCC and, in particular, to her leadership as Co-President for three years, a year beyond the usual term.  Her response to the needs of the affiliate, her support and development of skills in the officers around her, and her strong focus on the organization’s mission made her, in so many ways, the member who truly has made a difference. Nancy is on the left, with Beryl Goldman, Co-President.

Peg Anderson Award: Trish Alfano, pictured below with outgoing Co-President, Nancy Paist-Riches. Recognizes a longstanding member who has served in many capacities over the years and who continues to work in the background to inspire and support those who are now leaders and members.

Named Gift* Honorees: Donna Eaves and Robin Paragone, pictured below with Co-President, Beryl Goldman (*gifts to the educational foundation.)

Member Robin Paragone with Heather Sizemore (pictured on right), our 2^nd scholarship winner for this year. Heather is a nursing student at West Chester University and plans to graduate in May of 2025.

Heather’s career path includes becoming a registered nurse with a trajectory that encompasses working in an oncology intensive care unit, obtaining critical care certification, and assuming leadership roles within the nursing profession.  She aspires to meaningfully contribute to the lives of patients, advance the standards of care in critical settings, and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of nursing which includes the mentoring and empowering of the next generation of nurses.

Heather has not only excelled at her studies but has contributed to many community efforts, including volunteering at the “New Day to Stop Trafficking” where they help women who have been trafficked to obtain health and therapeutic care, and with the “Campus Election Engagement Project,” a national non-partisan program aimed at maximizing student voter registration with voter education on campus.

Heather is fully committed to maximizing every opportunity to succeed academically and looks forward to contributing meaningfully to her community and society at large.