MURFREESBORO — Young
women who have overcome obstacles and achieved academic excellence have been
rewarded with full tuition scholarships at MTSU.
The June S. Anderson Foundation presented the stipends to
Jill Greenfield Ethridge of Smyrna, Tennessee, and Eileen Rapier of
Murfreesboro May 14 at a luncheon at B. McNeel’s Restaurant in Murfreesboro.
The foundation awards annual full tuition scholarships to
women age 23 and older who are preparing for careers in fields that are
nontraditional for women.
Rapier, a 39-year-old rising senior, was married immediately
following high school. After that union dissolved, she moved to Tennessee and
remarried.
Her husband’s pursuit of a psychology degree at MTSU
inspired her to investigate what courses she might like to take.
“I discovered that MTSU is the only public university in
Tennessee to offer a degree in fashion design,” Rapier said.
The apparel design major noted that, although fashion is
associated with women, it still is a very male-dominated industry. Rapier said
she wants to be a pattern maker after she graduates in spring 2015.
“Pattern making is a fairly technical skill,” said Rapier.
“It requires math and computer knowledge and isn’t especially glamorous, but it
is steady work and generally in high demand. I think I have a knack for it.”
Ethridge, a 49-year-old rising senior, has a background in
teaching at a private school, in camps, in after-school programs and in several
other venues.
After her marriage broke up, she became her family’s sole
support. However, by that time it had become mandatory to acquire a university
education in order to obtain a teaching certificate. She felt she could not
attend college with young children at home.
“I did some research and found that I could go to MTSU
full-time and find a job that would be flexible enough,” Ethridge said.
The education major has driven a county school bus in order
to juggle motherhood, work and classes. She won’t be able to continue that job
during her senior year because of her full schedule of classes.
“This scholarship would alleviate the stress and anxiety of how to finish my degree and move forward to begin a better future for myself and my children,” Ethridge said.
She plans to teach math in a Rutherford County high school
following graduation in May 2015 and to continue her education by pursuing a
master’s degree in either educational administration or English as a second
language.
A third winner, rising sophomore Carmen Arcila, was absent
because she is spending her summer studying abroad. A native of Colombia who
lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the finance major and single mother works
two part-time jobs to make ends meet.
“I was raised by my maternal grandparent with many financial
needs after my father decided not to be part of my life and my mom needed to
work out of town,” Arcila wrote in her scholarship application.
Upon moving to the United States, Arcila worked in
low-paying maintenance and janitorial jobs while taking English lessons and
aspiring to attend college.
“I also want to let young students know that college is an
option for everyone who wants to pursue higher education,” she wrote.
Arcila wants to work either in foreign service with the
government or international business upon graduation.
Dr. June S. Anderson, the foundation’s namesake, taught chemistry
at MTSU for more than 25 years. She established the foundation in 1982 to
provide scholarships to students in areas of study underrepresented by women.
For more information about June Anderson Foundation
scholarships, go to http://capone.mtsu.edu/jsa/.
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