{"id":41822,"date":"2014-08-07T20:55:38","date_gmt":"2014-08-08T00:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/miserybay.usanethosting.com\/wordpress\/?p=41822"},"modified":"2014-08-07T20:55:38","modified_gmt":"2014-08-08T00:55:38","slug":"lafcu-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/lafcu-4\/","title":{"rendered":"LAFCU awards $3,000 in LCC scholarships"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"To help area women enter\/re-enter workforce
\nLAFCU awarded the 2014 WHEELTM scholarships to Andrea Skrip, of Charlotte, Rachelle Koenigsknecht, of Fowler, and Lisa McGhan, of Williamston, yesterday at its main branch in west Lansing. Each received a $1,000 scholarship to attend Lansing Community College (LCC) fall semester 2014.
\n\"\"LCC representative Peggy Hellwig; LAFCU representative Kelli A. Ellsworth-Etchison; and scholarship winners Rachelle Koenigsknecht, Andrea Skrip and Lisa McGhan.<\/em>
\nThe Women Helping Educate Every Lady (WHEEL) scholarship program was launched last year to help women who want to enhance their education to enter or re-enter the workforce.
\n\u201cFor the second year in a row, we found women with inspiring stories who will use the scholarships for real good in their lives and in our community,\u201d said Kelli A. Ellsworth-Etchison, vice president of community and business development of LAFCU. \u201cOngoing education and training are necessary to keep pace with demanding careers and changing technology. We\u2019re excited to help these women achieve their educational goals and hope they inspire the women in their lives, too.\u201d
\nAndrea Skrip has already earned a general associate degree at LCC and will begin the two-year radiologic technology program. The 20 year-old was raised knowing that breast tumors run in her family, but it wasn\u2019t until she discovered a lump during a self exam that she fully prepared herself for the worst possible scenario. Fortunately, she was diagnosed with a simple benign tumor, but the experience solidified her plans to become a radiologist.
\n\u201cSome people choose a career, and for others, a career finds them,\u201d Skrip said. \u201cI changed my career choice three times before radiology found me. I am grateful for the opportunity to complete the program and hope to inspire other women, like my sister, to stay ambitious.\u201d
\nAt only 29 years old, Rachelle Koenigsknecht is already pursuing a second career, this time in nursing. At 18, Koenigsknecht opened and operated a custom bakery. The successful business kept her very busy for eight years, but she has sold it to focus on her growing family.
\n“When I was young, I had two dreams,” explained Koenigsknecht. “One was to own a bakery and enjoy the artistic side of decorating cakes. But, the other was to be a nurse because I love to help people. I sometimes ask myself \u2018Why start college now?\u2019 But, I inevitably return to my gut instinct telling me that this is the path I am supposed to take. The scholarship will help me train for my career in nursing.\u201d
\nAlready an LCC student, she will enter the nursing associate program in the fall and anticipates graduating in May 2016. She plans to continue her education to earn a bachelor of science in nursing.
\nLisa McGhan, 24, is pursuing the prerequisite courses for a bachelor\u2019s degree in elementary education at LCC before transferring to Spring Arbor University. Her interest in teaching was sparked when she was in ninth grade and began helping her mother at work. Her mother is a third-grade teacher. McGhan attended LCC after high school, but her education was derailed by the birth of her twin daughters, who are now her inspiration for returning to school.
\n\u201cI am motivated to create a better future for my daughters and to be a good example of dedication, integrity, determination and hard work,\u201d McGhan said. \u201cThe time to focus on my education is now because I would like to be student teaching when my daughters are beginning school. This scholarship will help make this happen.\u201d
\nEllsworth-Etchison explained why the program targets adult women: \u201cThis is a scholarship uniquely designed for women who need additional education to compete in a tight labor market, whether they’ve been downsized or have not recently been working. Because women are usually the parent who has taken time away from the workforce to have children or for other family reasons, it can be especially difficult for them to re-enter the workforce or to obtain additional education or certifications to advance in their present jobs.\u201d
\n\u201cWe believe that the success of every individual contributes to a healthy economy, and that\u2019s what we work for at LAFCU,\u201d continued Ellsworth-Etchison.
\nWinners were determined by a one-page essay about the applicant\u2019s new career choice, why she wants to pursue it now and her inspiration for returning to school. Entries were judged on content and accuracy.
\nTo be eligible, applicants had to live or work in LAFCU\u2019s service area, which includes the counties of Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Livingston, Montcalm and Shiawassee.
\n\"\"
\nLCC representative Peggy Hellwig; LAFCU representative Kelli A. Ellsworth-Etchison; scholarship winners Rachelle Koenigsknecht, Andrea Skrip and Lisa McGhan; and LAFCU representative Patrick Spyke. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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