National Conference for College Women Student Leaders
(NCCWSL)
Conference held at the University of Maryland, May 30 – June 1, 2024.
Irene Keyes Memorial Fund
The Irene Keyes Memorial Fund provides annual scholarships to students to develop student leadership. The goal is to foster leadership development among college women leading to action. Women are encouraged to further women’s rights both on campus and in their communities.
Questions: Marcine Humphrey
The Poughkeepsie AAUW NCCWSL Committee provides scholarships to college women to the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. Read more about NCCWSL This year’s conference will be held on May 30-June 1 at the University of Maryland. The conference provides opportunities for training, inspiration, and networking. Participants meet current leaders and students from across the country. Applications and information can be found here in winter of 2025. Applicants may contact the committee and members will work with them to accommodate their interests. See reports from recent recipients below.
See Southern Dutchess News for a 2023 article on this AAUW Scholarship here on page 12B
NCCWSL 2024 RECIPIENT
Lily Hardwick, Marist College
Lily Hardwick, a first-year student at Marist College is the recipient of The Irene Keyes Memorial Scholarship to attend NCCWSL (National Conference for Women Student Leaders). Lily is majoring in Political Science with double minors in Environmental Policy and Global Studies while earning a paralegal certificate. She is enrolled in the Honors Program, Emerging Leaders Program, and is a Peer Mentor. Lily’s goal is to combine all her passions of diversity, equity and inclusion, politics, and climate change to become an Environmental Lawyer. Lily was “adopted from China by immigrant parents and is a member of the LGBTQ+ Community.”
Lily recognizes the positive opportunity that the conference will provide. She wrote “I will be able to connect with diverse young leaders who share my passion for personal and professional development.” She anticipates “learning from experienced professionals about navigating both gender and racial diversity in a leadership role and discovering how to navigate the unique challenges I face.” Lily feels the “representation of women in politics is low, and even lower for women of color. I aspire to be an inspirational leader for younger girls.”
Her leadership abilities have been evidenced by her work with the League of Women Voters. She was one of the youngest speakers at their National Convention. She is a member of the Citizens Climate Lobby Mid-Hudson Chapter, and works at the Marist Institute for Public Opinion where she is a student representative for recruitment and retention. The committee is very pleased we found her! She will be reporting back on her experience.
Lily writes after she attended the conference: ” It has been such an honor to represent Marist College at AAUW ’s National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. This conference brings together hundreds of college women from across the nation for an immersive multi-day
experience of leadership training, inspiration, and networking.
As a first generation student, I had the privilege of attending the panel “Empowering First-Generation Students — Daring to Harness Your Strengths While Navigating Challenges,” where I was able to hear President of Marymount University, Irma Becerra PhD , share her story. Her wisdom from the panel and later at the Women of Distinction Dinner will stay with me forever: “Invest in yourself; you owe it to yourself and your future family.”
I also attended a phenomenal panel about the Equal Rights Amendment, hosted
by Judy A. Carbone and Ting Ting Cheng . They are absolute leaders in pushing
for the ERA to be officially recognized as the 28th Amendment.
I am so thankful for this opportunity given to me by the Poughkeepsie AAUW and
to have such incredible women to look up to.”
Committee members: Marcine Humphrey, Betty Harrel, Pat Luczai, Marylou Davis, Mary Coiteux, Shaileen Kopec, and Maureen Tremblay.
NCCWSL 2023 RECIPIENTS
Miyor Gerard, Dutchess Community College
My name is Miyor Gerard, a recipient of AAUW’s National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) Scholarship. I am so grateful to AAUW Poughkeepsie for this amazing experience! The NCCWSL conference included three days of focused sessions, a trip to Washington D.C., an award ceremony, and a keynote speech from Minda Harts! During the conference days, I attended many sessions. Many of the sessions I attended pertained to my major, Nursing/Biology. I also attended other types of sessions, just to mix things up. Each session had great speakers that were completely invest with their audience. NCCWSL gave me the opportunity to form friendships with girls from around the country (even girls from Puerto Rico attended!!). My favorite parts of NCCWSL 2023 were the trip to D.C. and getting to walk around the University of Maryland campus. During the D.C. trip, my group and I went sight-seeing, shopped, and ate tasty food. The University of Maryland has such a beautiful campus! I took some time to walk around and explore. Again, thank you AAUW Poughkeepsie for this amazing opportunity! I would not have been able to attend this prestigious conference if it weren’t for this scholarship!
Miyor Gerard has just entered the nursing program at Dutchess Community College, planning to graduate with a nursing degree in 2025. When asked why she wanted to attend NCCWSL, she wrote, “I hope that this conference will give me a better understanding of what I want my future to be…and teaches me more about womanhood and sisterhood.” Miyor has been successful balancing campus life and work life. Jacqueline Goffe-McNish, her professor, describes her as one “who demonstrates creativity and an enviable work ethic. She is motivated and possesses high ethical standards.”
Maggie Gravano, Marist College
My name is Maggie Gravano and I am a student at Marist College. When I was informed about this award by a magnificent resource and friend, Pat Tylor, in Career Services at Marist College, I quickly realized it was an opportunity I could not pass up. I owe thanks to my professors Moira Fitzgibbons and Robin Torres who wrote my letters of recommendation in record time. I then received the call from the lovely Marcine Humphrey to inform me that I had been chosen to attend the conference. On account of not being familiar with the conference, my expectations were somewhat scarce but optimistic.
Upon arrival and stepping onto the University of Maryland campus, it was nothing short of intimidating, mostly due to its size but also the beauty of my surroundings. I would catch myself in any free time, which wasn’t much, just kicking my shoes off and walking on the stunning green space beneath the sweeping trees. We don’t have trees like that in New York. The conference events began in full force. I was meeting so many different women with diverse backgrounds and experiences. As hectic as it seemed moving from one place to another, it was a breath of fresh air learning about the similarities we had regardless of our differences. The informational sessions were my favorite part by far. I decided to step out of my comfort zone when making my selections and chose to learn more about financial literacy. Importantly, I have never taken a finance class in my life as the sciences have always been my go-to. Not only did the sessions enlighten me to put more thought into healthy spending and saving, but the four women speaking on the panel were so approachable. My favorite lectures however, ended up being about emergency contraception and victim advocacy. Both sessions propelled me to act. Upon returning from the conference, I met with the administration at Marist College to discuss the implementation of some form of a health vending machine to provide emergency contraceptives, fentanyl testing strips, menstrual products, and other health-related items for the campus. Additionally, we discussed working to get all the resident assistants (RAs) on campus Narcan certified. Furthermore, after the victim advocacy lecture, I decided to become trained as a crisis counselor and now volunteer as a suicide hotline counselor. Without this experience, none of these milestones would have been at the forefront of my mind.
In addition to the actionable developments that have come after NCCWSL, I have also had many other takeaways. I now understand the importance of being approachable and welcoming to others. Making connections and networking would be so easy if everyone was more open to the idea. I met some amazing new people that I now call friends. I also learned I can travel by myself, which was very scary in the beginning. Finally, I discovered the beauty of
stepping out of my comfort zone and the self-satisfaction that follows. This conference was the experience of a lifetime.
Thank you AAUW Poughkeepsie for the traveling funds and assistance in answering any questions I had along the way. Additionally, much gratitude for the warm welcome I received when I was invited to attend your AAUW annual meeting this year. The AAUW Poughkeepsie women are marvelous. This experience could not have been possible without Marcine’s advice and guidance. I am grateful for the opportunity to attend NCCWSL, in memory of an AAUW beloved member who touched so many lives. I made the most of the experience in honor of her and will live a life to empower and advocate for others.
Maggie Gravano is a student at Marist College majoring in Biochemistry. Maggie, once elected to Student Government, delved into campus life and has developed and implemented initiatives towards female menstrual health. She is an active member of many clubs and committees on campus including Philanthropy Chair of her sorority, member of the Marist Strategic Planning Committee and a member of the Dean’s Circle. Maggie hopes this conference “will build her confidence as a strong woman,” and let her “learn tactics to address inequities towards women, and gain a network of mentors.” Her professor, Robin Diller Torres, feels Maggie will fit right in at this conference. “Maggie is a proactive learner and leader who shows initiative, resilience, potential, and results.”
Contributions to the Irene Keyes Memorial Fund can be made at More Information and Donation Forms.
IRENE KEYES MEMORIAL FUND
The Poughkeepsie Branch Board has established the Irene Keyes Women Students Leadership Fund in honor of our late past President, Irene Keyes. Many branch members have made generous contributions, in honor of Irene, which were used to establish this fund.
The fund is used to support one or two young women to attend AAUW’s NCCWSL (National Conference for College Women Student Leaders) in Washington DC each year. This conference brings together college-age women from around the country to participate in workshops focusing on advocacy, leadership, health and wellness, and “real-world” issues such as financial literacy and life after college. Attendees hear inspiring stories from women who either broke through barriers themselves or are helping others break through barriers on behalf of women and girls, and participate in community service projects and skill building events. Jessica Riley, a young member of our branch who attended the 2011 conference wrote, “Being around women with interests similar to mine, hearing them and relating to them, I couldn’t have asked for better inspiration and empowerment.” [Complete article, The Branch, Sept. 2011, page 3].
Irene Keyes, who was president of our branch from 2006 to 2008, passed away suddenly in July 2011. Her leadership role enabled our local branch to earn the important 501(c)(3) tax designation. She wrote grants to fund initiatives like the Girls’ Conference and Leading To Reading projects. She was highly committed to our long-term vision of achieving gender equity.
This award has been given since 2012. Details of earlier recipients of the NCCWSL have been archived and are available from the branch historian.