AWIS East Bay Scholarships
The Ohlone Audubon Society sponsors six scholarships through AWIS in memory of Sara Mathews and Helen McDermon Sowers.
The AWIS (Association for Women in Science) East Bay Scholarship Program strives to encourage and reward outstanding women & non-binary students pursuing degrees in science fields at East Bay colleges and universities. In 2024 they provided ten $1000 Scholarship Awards Three scholarships were made in memory of Lorraine McCormick, the mother of Sheila McCormick, an East Bay AWIS member. Six scholarships were made possible by the Ohlone Audubon Society in memory of Sara Mathews and Helen McDermon Sowers. One scholarship was made possible from a donation by 4D Molecular Therapeutics, a gene therapy company based in Emeryville, CA.
The Scholarship Program supports women, transgender, and non-binary students in the East Bay CA who are pursuing degrees in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Medicine) at community college, undergraduate, and graduate programs. Scholarship funds may be used to support the advancement of their education: e.g. to support educational expenses, for professional advancement courses, to attend a professional conference or for purchasing equipment vital for supporting research.
For Information and to apply , please visit the East Bay AWIS scholarship page.
OAS’s 2024 Scholarship recipients are:
Srihita Panati
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Contra Costa College
Sara Mathews Scholarship
Jimena Romano Silva
Integrative Biology
University of California, Berkeley
Sara Mathews Scholarship
Srihita Panati
Metabolic Biology
University of California, Berkeley
Sara Mathews Scholarship
Sofia Esteva
Public Health & City Planning
University of California, Berkeley
Sara Mathews Scholarship
Preeti Sundaramurthi
Biological Sciences
Cal. State University, East Bay
Helen Sowers Scholarship
Mya De Leon
Environmental Science
Cal. State University, East Bay
Helen Sowers Scholarship
About Sara Mathews, 1938-2019
Born in Minnesota, Sara graduated from Washburn High School, received an academic scholarship to Smith college, then finished a Masters in Social Work from UC Berkeley. Post- graduation found Sara working with East Bay area children on the Autism Spectrum and helping families bring teaching and learning tools home after school. Her passion to help all these people left a legacy of success for autistic kids throughout San Francisco.
Sara was an avid birder and world traveler. Her love of culture and community made her many lifelong friends. She was the original foodie, cooking for camping trips and friends at home. Immersed in culture, Sara danced her way throughout the years with Berkeley Folk Dancers. Outspoken politically, Sara marched for peace and change throughout her life.
About Helen McDermon Sowers, 1924 – 2020
Born in Southern California, Helen spent her early years on the beach in San Pedro. This gave her a lifelong fondness of swimming and spending time in and around the water. After graduating from Union High School in Huntington Beach, she attended University of California Berkeley and graduated with honors in the School of Public Health in 1945. She later received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology from Cal State Hayward where she also taught until she retired.
Helen loved the outdoors, swimming, sailing, hiking, birding and mushrooming. She instilled a love of the outdoors in all her children. She was selfless in volunteering, taking leadership roles in the PTA, the California Association of Medical Lab Technologists, and the Ohlone Audubon Society. She loved the opportunities life offered her. Helen also loved challenging her mind with Bridge, Scrabble, and memorizing poetry.
