PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Weaver, Melony Ritter
(501) 760.6410 office
press@np.edu
October 21, 2016
PEO CHAPTER CH HELPS STUDENT FIND HER PATH TO PHYSICS
Hot Springs, Arkansas – The Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Chapter CH scholarship was awarded to Stevie Renee Wells this semester. The $1000 scholarship is dedicated for non-traditional female students who may have been over looked by other scholarships.
Wells graduated a year early from Lake Hamilton High School, earning a full academic scholarship to Arkansas Tech University (ATU). After struggling to connect with a major and working full time, she lost her scholarship and dropped out of college. Wells spent years in the workforce where she was able to understand her strengths and weaknesses and identify her passion for math and science.
After completing her Associate of Arts degree at NPC, she plans to transfer to ATU
to complete a bachelor’s degree and then the University of Texas to complete her Ph.D.
She hopes to pursue a career in applied physics research. She said, “I think the critical
difference for me is that I have found a discipline that I am passionate about. I
truly want this. I know it will take years of hard work to get to where I’m going,
but I know that with the changes I’ve made personally and the community environment
of NPC, I will be successful.” Her ultimate goal is to “contribute something so critical
to the field of physics that I am awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics, and with a
scholarship from NPC, I am one step closer to that goal.”
PEO scholarship committee member, Emily Faulk explained that PEO is a worldwide organization with a mission of furthering the education of women. “That is why we are here,” she added. Committee member Helen Fisher said the PEO is pleased to be able to contribute to the education of a student like Stevie, “NPC is growing and so are we,” she noted.
Photo: PEO scholarship committee members Helen Fisher (left) and Emily Faulk (right) pictured with scholarship recipient Stevie Renee Wells (center).
The NPC Foundation raises private donations to support our students through numerous endowed scholarships and campus improvements. Last year the Foundation raised nearly $750,000 and awarded $496,000 in scholarships and emergency aid. Endowments like the PEO Chapter CH Scholarship have been created through the generous donations of partners, community leaders, businesses and organizations in the Hot Springs community. If you would like to donate to an established fund or create a scholarship to honor the memory of a loved one, please contact Sara Brown, Director of Development, at (501)760-4129 or at sbrown@np.edu.
