Two Scholarships Awarded to Palatine Students

The Women in Business Advisory Forum (WIBAF), a networking group of the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to be able to award two $1,000 scholarships again this year. This scholarship provides non-renewable awards to be used for college tuition, fees, books, or supplies. For the second consecutive year, two awards have been given: one to Maddy Langell of Palatine High School and one to Madeline Scharm of Fremd High School. To be eligible for the application process, female students must have had a 3.0 GPA or better, with the intent of attending a 2-year or 4-year college or university in Fall 2016 to pursue a degree in a business-related field. Other criteria considered by the scholarship judges included business coursework in high school, employment experience, clubs/activities/service/volunteer roles, two short response questions, and two letters of recommendation.

Madeline Scharm, the recipient from Fremd High School, will be attending Indiana University-Bloomington to double major in Finance and Marketing. According to one of Scharm’s letters of recommendation, “What truly separates Madeline from the rest of her peers is her unmatched leadership, work-ethic, maturity, responsibility, and genuine desire to help others. She is a born leader and role model amongst her peers.”

Maddy Langell, this year’s recipient from Palatine High School, will be continuing her studies at The Ohio State University to pursue a degree in Marketing. Langell’s nominator wrote the following, “Maddy is also extremely passionate about her future. From the time I first met Maddy, she shared her dream to go to Ohio State and her desire to study business. She understood the importance of academics and was successful in her business classes, and active in Business Professionals of America. I believe this passion and diligence will carry on next year as she pursues her dream.”

Funds for the scholarship were raised through a fashion show fundraiser, prize drawings at monthly networking lunches, and a raffle offered at the annual Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce Keys to Success Awards Dinner.

WIBAF is an active group of business women who are interested in learning and networking with one another while discussing business related topics. Meetings are held once a month, on the second Tuesday of each month from 12:00pm to 1:30pm. Meetings are divided between organized presentations including business topics and member features, along with time for networking with other members in attendance. The luncheon fee is $15 per month or $40 per quarter. Pre-registration is required no later than the Monday morning prior to each meeting. Registration after noon on Monday will be $17 per person. All attendees are given 30-60 seconds to provide their "elevator pitch" during the introduction portion of each meeting. If you are interested in hosting a luncheon, featuring your company for a longer 10-15 minute presentation or offering a 15-20 minute business topic for the group, please contact one of the WIBAF co-chairs: Julie Selof at 847-496-6246 or jselof@palatineparks.org or Mari Beth Darling at 847-254-7227 or platelady247@gmail.com.