Angela’s on her way….

The Women’s Opportunity Award deadline is coming up – December 1st is the final day for applications to be accepted to be in competition for the  Friday Harbor Award of  $5000.and NW regional award of  an additional $3000.  Applications available at the Toy Box or  www.SiFri.org. The award has been given  by Soroptimist of Friday Harbor since 1997. Questions:  Program Leader Kristine Odle 378 2414. And here’s more about last year’s winner:

AWARD HELPS LOCAL WOMAN TOWARD LIFE’S DREAM.
by Correspondent Theresa Simendinger

Angela

In 2010 Angela Bolger was the voice on the phone when you called the Sheriff’s Office offering comfort and help. You would not know this single mother of two teenage boys had a dream from childhood of becoming an RN or registered nurse.

Bolger was working two jobs, at the Sheriff’s Office and the Medical Center as a LPN or licensed practical nurse.  She was struggling to keep it all together for her boys, still hoping her dream might one day come true.

Early in 2009 things were not going well for Bolger. Having just lost her home and car she was desperate. Lenore Bayuk, whom she credits as her mentor through it all, happened to be a Soroptimist. As Bolger relates it, Bayuk encouraged Bolger to apply for the Women’s Opportunity Award.

Given annually by Soroptimist of Friday Harbor the award is intended to help “head of household” women who are enrolled in or accepted to an undergraduate degree program or a vocational skills program. Bolger was not only awarded the coveted $2500 from our local chapter in 2010, she went on to be awarded the regional prize of another $2500.

The award money is intended to be used to offset any costs associated with the recipient’s effort to attain higher education; including books, childcare, transportation, etc.

Bolger still tears up at the memory of the support she felt from the community of women in Friday Harbor. She bought a car for $1000. The remaining sum together with student loans is being used for tuition, books, etc. She remembers clearly going to a garage sale looking for a table to study on. Remembering fondly yet another angel, the woman who ran the garage sale was also Soroptimist. After recognizing Bolger as the 2010 winner she then sold Bolger a computer for $20.  Bolger completes all her class work on the same computer.

Bolger recalls that after finishing as many classes as possible at San Juan Island branch of Skagit Valley College it was necessary to transfer to Whatcom College, Bellingham.  She has one more quarter to go and then hopes to be accepted to the RN program. She cannot apply until she completes her final quarter. Bolger is currently working two jobs while continuing her education and supporting her family.

Her two sons, although upset at her leaving the Friday Harbor community, consider Bolger a great role model in what she has already achieved.
Bolger’s voice has a waver as she recalls the love and support from Soroptimists. She wants to succeed “for all who put their faith in me.”

Her boys are right, Angela Bolger is already a success story to anyone who hears of this woman’s struggle at 42 to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming an RN.

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