Trenton Soroptimists honor three local women

Three local women were recognized with monetary awards from the Trenton Soroptimists for their ambition and contribution to society. The honors banquet was held on March 19 at Trenton’s Grand Event. Several judges, local professional and business people, were in attendance to celebrate with the winners. The applicants were evaluated on a set criteria and essays that assessed their contributions to women and society.

Soroptimist is an international organization of almost 1,500 clubs in nineteen countries for and by dedicated women who use their collective power to help other women and girls transform their physical, mental, and emotional lives and the lives of their families.

The Virginia Wagner Educational Award honors a woman who is attending college or university to earn a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. Judging factors included efforts toward education; scholarship based on cumulative grade-point average; extra-curricular activities; financial need; a general impression of stated goals and aspirations; and a good attitude toward education, community, and self.

Trenton resident and 2008 Carlson High School graduate, Erinma Elibe is completing her master’s degree in Cancer Chemical Biology from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor this April, with a current GPA of 3.918. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences with a minor in psychology, and she plans to attend medical school to specialize in oncology and academic medicine focused on the brain, neuroanatomy, and the science behind cognition.

Because of both of her parents’ diagnoses with cancer, her greatest interest is cancer: its prevention, earlier detection, safer more effective treatments and increased access to those treatments. Ms. Elibe pursued projects and research experiences regarding nervous system cancers including creation of a 900-patient database. The experiences in caring for her parents also motivated her to continue her educational and career goals.

Erinma has co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and abstracts and has made twelve presentations at scientific meetings. Her honors include receiving a 2018-19 Rackham Non-traditional Fellow scholarship, 2017 Physician Researcher Initiative Fellow scholarship, and Western Michigan University dean’s list.

The Live Your Dream Award is about helping women who are heads of household who are facing economic and personal hardships as they struggle to live their dream through skilled training, apprenticeships, or college enrollment.

Elissa Gonzalez, a single mother, is striving to receive a bachelor’s degree in Communications at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her goal is to start her own public relations firm that will focus on fundraising campaigns to expand urban and suburban farming in the metropolitan area and promote solar power and other environmental improvements. She is the president of the Public Relations Student Society of America and the U of M Dearborn SOAR (Support, Opportunities, Advocacy, and Resources) Public Relations and Social Media Assistant. She was chosen as a delegate to attend the National Public Relations Student Society of America in Austin, Texas. Ms. Gonzalez has overcome many obstacles, but with the support and encouragement from her family, is well on her way to achieving success in her goals.

To qualify for the Soroptimist International of Trenton Area’s Soroptimist Prime award, a young woman who is attending high school in our five-city region must be actively helping to make her community and world a better place through volunteer efforts.

Rebecca Roman is a senior at Woodhaven High School who enjoys her volunteer work at Fish and Loaves Community Food Pantry in Taylor. The pantry, in operation since 2008, has assisted more than 9,100 households. Rebecca has distributed food to over 13,000 people, and her many duties include seeing that the day-to-day operations go smoothly. Rebecca’s mission is to “better the lives of the women and girls so that they can shift their focus on improving themselves and achieving more.”