EWI News Story

Executive Women International (EWI) of Chicago will hold its Annual ASIST (Adult Students in Scholastic Transition) Scholarship Awards Dinner at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8 at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park Hotel. Allstate Insurance Company, a member firm of EWI since 1960, is one of the sponsors of the event. Their Senior Vice President, Joan Walker, arranged for Anita Dunn, Former White House Communications Director, as the keynote speaker for the event. Other sponsors of the event include ITW and Intersports, Inc.

EWI of Chicago will present two $3,000 scholarship awards this year. First place has been awarded to Vera Davis, mother of one and a full-time student at National Louis University. She is just 36 credits away from receiving her Business/Management degree and hopes to secure a position educating and developing programs to mentor and inspire women to excel. Davis’ daughter also is a student at NLU and hopes to graduate on stage with her mother.

Second place has been awarded to Kim Kramer who is enrolled at MacCormac College. She received a journalism degree 20 years ago, but has been unable to find work. She plans to complete her second degree as a court reporter.

Margaret Mitchell of Advocate Health Care and EWI of Chicago's Chapter President stated, "We are very excited for these ladies to be able to continue their education despite these difficult economic times. We hope our awards help them accomplish their goals."

When asked about Anita Dunn, Mitchell commented, “Ms. Dunn is an inspiration to all women who continue to pursue their goals no matter what they might be. It is very fitting that she is our keynote speaker for our ASIST Scholarship Awards dinner. I’m sure she will share her stimulating insight to her success with our member firm representatives, award recipients, ASIST judges and other guests that evening. We are truly blessed to have Joan Walker and Allstate Insurance Company help make this event an evening to remember. EWI of Chicago has partnered with educational providers and social service agencies to identify potential ASIST candidates. Students first compete at the local Chapter level. The Chapter-level winners are then submitted to EWI nationally and have the opportunity to win one of twelve $2,500 additional scholarships. This year, EWI of Chicago received 28 applications. The judges were Barbara Sutton of Saint Xavier University, Emma Kalaidjian of Peridot Financial Planning LLC, and Aimee Gillispie of HelmsBriscoe who is also the ASIST Director for EWI of Chicago.