Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
High School Scholarships & Awards
Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
2021 Winners
Emma Rice from San Marin High School received $1,000 and will attend University of California Santa Barbara. She will be majoring in biological sciences in the hope of becoming a veterinarian. She wants to challenge herself to take rigorous courses and get involved with research, such as exploring animal cognition. Her aspirations are not limited to academics. Her intrigue surrounding science has led her to obtain a deeper appreciation for life and its mesmerizing complexity. She plans on traveling the world and immersing herself in different cultures. She also plans on finding ways to live a healthy life, while having fun.
Ula McPretl from Novato High School received $1,000 and will attend Lewis and Clark University in Portland, Oregon. Her fields of interest are psychology and neuroscience, she chose this Liberal-Arts college because she wants to get a well-rounded education to prepare her for whatever career path she chooses. She also plans to further her education at graduate or medical school. Serving others is also a very big part of whatever she does. Since a young age she has been part of a philanthropic organization and hopes to continue her volunteerism in college.
2020 Winners
Kelsey McIvor-Tingle from San Marin High received $1,000 and was accepted to U.C. Berkeley and U.C. Santa Barbara. As you can see from her picture, she chose Berkeley. She will major in global studies with the intent of pursuing either a Masters or Doctorate degree in international relations. Her ultimate goal is a career in international affairs. Ideally, she would love to work for the United Nations or a global non-profit organization as an international ambassador.
Alessandro Daniel Barrera from Novato High received $1,000 and will attend the University of San Francisco. He aspires to graduate with a degree in computer science. From an early age, he wanted to create technology that benefits people’s health. He explains that with a computer science degree and a more integrated technology society, having the ability to command and program new tasks into a computer would provide him with the necessary tools to excel in a more competitive world and improve people’s health through technology.
2019 Winners
Leilani Villesenor from San Marin High received $1,000 and was accepted to both UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis. She aspires to graduate with a master’s degree in sociology and also spend 2 years in the Peace Corps. She wants to support kids and ultimately follow work in the nonprofit world and become a teacher. The basis of her life plan is centered around learning eternally and living beyond herself.
Gillie Mason from San Marin High received $500 and was accepted to Chico State and Sacramento State. She aspires to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing and then travel the world to places less fortunate that need more medical care. Her goal is to make a difference in the world, starting with what’s in front of her, something small, something that makes her happy and hope that energy is powerful enough to inspire other to create change.
Antoinette Spina also from San Marin High received $500 and was accepted to UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara. Her major is biology and chemistry. She aspires to be a neurosurgeon, but also wants to gain experience as an EMT.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
Each Spring Soroptimist International of Novato awards Outstanding Achievement scholarships to graduating students at Novato High School and San Marin High School. The criteria for the award is:
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Academic achievement
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Need for financial assistance
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Signed letters of recommendation
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School and community activities
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Quality and completeness of the application materials
Applications are available at the Career Counseling Office at each high school.
Personal Growth Awards
We also award $250 Personal Growth Awards to four Novato and San Marin High School graduating seniors and one each to NOVA and Marin Oaks High School graduating seniors. They are nominated by school faculty based on their hard work and personal achievement.
For more information on either award, contact Kris Wiley.
Kris Wiley, coordinator of the awards, is providing the scholarships to each of the recipients.