Celebrating Women

During the nine years the Women's Scholarship Fundraiser has been active, it has supported more than 30 students, raised over $26,000 and created awareness for women and their achievements in the arts.

In hopes of continuing campus support for women, several University departments will sponsor a Campus Walk for Wellness and Women's Scholarships at Wheeler Hall today at 3:45 p.m. Participants will walk to different locations on campus that will showcase SIUC departments as part of the 9th Annual "Celebrate Women Benefit for Women's Scholarships." Contributors will receive a complimentary ticket to the "Celebrate Women" reception.

Nancy Nicholson, University procedures and systems analyst for plant and service operations, said she has attended and enjoyed the benefit for many years and was delighted to join the benefit committee this year. "We've never done a walk before, and we're hoping for a good turnout," Nicholson said. Connie Shanahan, a benefit committee member, has been involved with the benefit off and on since 1997. She said helping women achieve their academic goals is rewarding in itself.

"It's just my way of giving something to others in the community of SIU," Shanahan said. Hoping to exceed previous years' proceeds, Shanahan said the first Campus Walk for Wellness and Women's Scholarships will be an additional way for people to get involved and give back to the campus. "We have so many deserving students that need scholarship assistance," Shanahan said. The Recreation Center will participate in the benefit by allowing supporters to take a self-guided tour of the center, a lap on the track or use of the exercise equipment. The Women's Center will talk about violence prevention, and the School of Medicine and Physician Assistant Program will perform health checks.

"I'm hoping that a lot of people will get involved," Shanahan said. "As we grow older we sometimes forget how to stay healthy. We do things that are more convenient like stop at McDonald's to get something to eat, rather than go home and fix something that might be more nutritious." The benefit will distribute its profits from all of the events between the SIUC Women's Caucus, Women's Studies Program and the Carbondale American Association of University Women. These organizations will then use the money to give female students scholarships to SIUC.

The "Ninth Annual Celebrate Women Benefit for Women's Scholarships" reception will take place Wednesday at the University Museum in Faner Hall. There will be guided tours of the museum exhibit, "A Century of Women Artists," film screenings, discussions and musical group "Loose Gravel" will perform. Programs will begin at 2 p.m., a silent auction will take place at noon, and the scholarships will be awarded after 5:30 p.m. Nicholson said one highlight of the day will be the "Celluloid Ceiling" discussion lead by Jan Huttner, a Chicago-based film critic. This discussion will talk about the restrictions faced by women in Hollywood.

"Through these programs the audience can recognize women and their achievements," Nicholson said. Shanahan and Nicholson said the benefit has made a lot of progress since its inception in 1997. In the beginning, funding for only three or four scholarships between the organizations was possible.

"We've been able to double and triple the amount of students we've been able to help," Shanahan said. Shanahan said the continuance of the benefit is important for women who do not have the finances to get an education. "It may make the difference whether or not someone is able to go to school," Shanahan said.