ROCK HILL - It was a double celebration for the Professional Women of Sullivan County (PWSC) on May 15. The coinciding of the Annual Scholarship Dinner and the parent organization's centennial anniversary made for a festive atmosphere at Bernie's Holiday Restaurant.

The PWSC, a chapter of the NYS Women, Inc. (NYSW), awards scholarships every spring to graduating seniors, and to a mature woman returning to college to change or further her career.

According to Past President of NYSW, Patricia Hendrickson, the high school seniors have to submit applications, and answer an essay question, which, for 2019 was “to identify some aspect of Sullivan County that you feel good about, but also areas that can stand some improvement.” Many of the students referenced Resorts World Catskills bringing jobs and tourism, and concerns for residents' health. Hendrickson said they received more than 30 applications, which were redacted to take out any identifiable references. “We look at their grade point average, their essay, involvement in school and government activities, volunteer work and sports, and we ask them to submit at least two letters of reference.”

During the event, Hendrickson also presented a brief statement regarding the 100th anniversary of the New York State Women Inc. “Our mission continues to be “to build powerful women professionally, personally and politically through advocacy, education and information.” She touched upon issues of equal pay, discrimination and gender typing, and urged continued education for “our ranks, our communities, our businesses and our governments to conditions that need to be changed in order to enable women to positively and confidently impact family, community, business, economics and government.”

For 2019, the PWSC gave out eight scholarships, each worth $500, plus certificates from NYS Senator Jen Metzger, U.S. Congressman Antonio Delgado, NYS Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, and the Sullivan County Legislature.

Vice President of PWSC and Scholarship Chair Carena Collura welcomed the attendees, and member Helen Rados introduced the guest speaker - her daughter, Joanna Goldfarb - a previous scholarship winner (2007), and former youth services librarian at the Crawford Library. Goldfarb is now the Youth Services Consultant at Ramapo Catskill Library System.

Goldfarb spoke about the influences in her life, and to the graduates, she said “… if you're sitting in this room and being honored tonight, I'm confident that you will influence, support and inspire so many others …”

Sari Rosenheck, presented the Naomi Morgan Memorial Scholarship to Monticello High School student Zanaya Cooper, who will be majoring in medicine. Rosenheck also presented a scholarship originally established by and named after her mother Jean. The scholarship, which goes to a mature woman, was given to Jennifer Pisaniello, will be furthering her studies in psychology and guidance counseling.

Other scholarships went to Fallsburg High School student Hayley Weiner (the Cooper Arias Award), who will be majoring in Business Administration; Sullivan West High School student Jenna Kratz, majoring in Physical Education and Health; Liberty High School student Abby Milling, who will major in Occupational Therapy; Eldred High School senior Hannah Jennings, majoring in engineering; Sullivan West High School student Victoria Arnold, who will major in Physical Therapy and Biology; and Kathleen Houghtaling, a senior at Fallsburg High School, who will be majoring in Graphic Arts.

Businesses and individuals who would like to sponsor scholarships may get in touch with Pat Hendrickson at PO Box 47, White Lake, NY, 12786, or call her at 845-798-4652.