Thanks to a great committee and Foundation Board, we are proud to announce ten recipients of the WEDC Foundation’s most recent scholarship cycle.

Detra will be a junior at Alabama A&M this fall, and is studying to be a counselor for adolescents so she can be a school counselor in the Madison County School system. She would like to reach youth before they reach her at her place of work – the Limestone Correctional Facility. Detra has been a correctional officer there for many years and works third shift full time while attending school. She is majoring in psychology and minoring in criminal justice.

Deione is a full-time student at UAH and plans to graduate next May. She served in the Army and is now pursuing a bachelor’s in communications with a minor in psychology. She hopes to be a television news broadcaster. She is the mother of two, and we were impressed that she took the initiative to attend class, despite having to take her children with her. She is interested in a mentor with public relations or broadcasting background.

Norma Crutcher

Norma is a second-time recipient and is currently attending Calhoun College. She has worked for several years at Hibbett Sporting Goods, and has received several promotions during her time. She likes math, and hopes to follow Calhoun with studies at Athens State. She is interested in working in the business or accounting field. She has two daughters, and her mentor is Leigh Gonterman from AmSouth.

Hilda Esguerra

Hilda is a native of Columbia, where she received a master’s in political science, a law degree and a teaching certificate. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and is pursuing teaching certification to enable her skills to transfer to the city school systems. She has a three-year-old son, and is enrolled at UAH. She is interested in a mentor that could direct her to job opportunities that could utilize her background in Spanish, political science or teaching.

Sandy Hardiman

Sandy is four classes away from finishing obtaining bachelor degrees in both French and Communication Arts at UAH and has nearly completed nearly a minor in Women Studies as well. She has worked in a number of departments at the UAH while going to school, including the UAH Development Office, which sparked an interest in institutional development. Sandy has two children, and hopes to continue her education while pursuing a career related to institutional development for non-profit organizations or possibility institutions of higher education. Sandy’s mentor is Susan Phelan, Time Domain Corporation.

Annie Harris

Annie has been working at UAH since 1994 and working toward a degree in communications. She is going into her third year at UAH, and has the unusual opportunity to attend school at the same time her son does, since he just entered UAH as a freshman. She is particularly interested in women’s and children’s issues, and would like to work with a mentor that works with agencies that refer services, such as United Way, or lobbies for their clients.

Renoka Heard

Renoka is very focused on her career goal of working in the field of logistics as a configuration manager. She is studying logistics at Alabama A & M, with a minor in marketing. She has two children, and works full-time at Powertel, where she has received several promotions. She hopes to eventually work for the government, and is particularly interested in missile control and international relations.

Letha Jones

Letha is a second-time recipient, and recently finished her associate’s degree in applied science. She will be attending Athens State this fall, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management. She works for the Corps of Engineers in the Contracting and Procurement Directorate, where she’s getting experience as an intern in her field. She has one son, and her mentor is Cindy Norton.

Loyce Lucas

Loyce is pursuing a bachelor’s in business education at Alabama A & M, and has completed all her requirements except student teaching this fall. She has two children, and wants to teach, just as her mother and grandmother did. She is interested in a mentor that could help guide her toward a full-time teaching job after graduation.

Lynn Pinson

Lynn is a second-time recipient, works full-time at Girl’s Incorporated, and is the mother of two. She has been attending Calhoun Community College, and has been working toward a degree in computer graphic designing. She likes computers and working with people, and hopes to find a career that includes both. Her mentor is Diane Weston with Uwaholi.