3 UA female students awarded scholarships

Chris Richards Arizona Daily Wildcat College of Nursing senior Vicky Norwood goes over patients' notes at the end of her shift with her clinical instructor, Dr. Robin Rogers. A scholarship from Executive Women International has helped Norwood make a career change after 18 years in the working world.

The Executive Women International Tucson chapter awarded Shari Madden, Connie Hoyer and Vicky Norwood, $2,000 Adult Students in Scholastic Transition Program scholarships for being leaders in their fields of study. The women were honored at Keaton's Restaurant at the Foothills Mall.

"We feel these women are not the normal college students. Many college students get scholarships, but these women worked hard to get where they are," said Judy Parker, chairman of the scholarship committee for EWI.

"These are fabulous, determined women. It's great that we're able to help them," she said.

Madden, an education senior on the UA's Sierra Vista campus, Hoyer, a bilingual junior and Norwood, a nursing senior, were chosen because they faced career changes, single parenthood or divorce, Parker said.

"These women are bound and determined to make it," she said.

Norwood went back to school after facing a career change following 18 years of employment. She said her dream is to become a family nurse practitioner in a small rural area. Norwood said before going to school she "never made the commitment or investment in time" to pursue her education.

"I didn't believe I could do it. Now I know that if I make up my mind to do something, I can do it," she said.

A single mother of five, Hoyer said she became aware of the need for bilingual educators in the Southwest area after working as a teacher's aid since the early 1980s. In addition to attending school full time, Hoyer works two jobs to support her large family.

Hoyer said she was "ecstatic" when she learned she was a scholarship recipient.

"I was so impressed by so many executive women gathered together to reach out to give other women like myself support and help," Hoyer said.

Madden, a divorced mother of two, said she found herself struggling to support her children with minimal job skills. Madden plans to teach first, second or third grade and hopes to pursue her master's degree.

The women said the scholarship office at the University of Arizona notified them that they were invited to apply for the scholarship. Madden, Hoyer and Norwood were selected from a pool of 10 other applicants, Parker said.

EWI, an international group, focuses on promoting women in the community. The group also has a literacy program to raise money for books for the Boys' Club. Every year, EWI sponsors an event to fund the scholarships. This year's event, Country Magic in Tucson, will be held Oct. 18.