In the late 1800s, it was considered common knowledge that the academic rigor of higher education was bad for women's health.
A small group of college alumnae came together in 1881 to challenge this belief and formed the American Association of University Women.
Today the AAUW is approaching its 125-year anniversary ' Nov. 28. Celebrations are being planned on all levels of the organization. With 150,000 members nationwide and 50 local branches in Ohio, the organization works to promote equality for women and girls, lifelong education and societal change.
The only requirement for membership of AAUW is that women must have a degree higher than a high school diploma
said Mary Lee Powell, education funding vice president at the Ohio state level.
Powell is one of the 18 members of the Athens branch of AAUW. She is a graduate of Ohio University and the branch's financial officer. Powell is one of many OU women who has taken leadership roles in AAUW.
The Athens branch of AAUW was founded in 1927 by Irma Voigt, the first dean of women at OU, for whom Voigt Hall is named, said Lois Whealey, membership vice president of AAUW Athens. Voigt went on to become president of AAUW at the state level.
Dr. Edith A. Wray, an OU English professor, was also a president at the local and state levels in the 1950s. Wray House is named for her.
According to Whealey, both Wray and Voigt have AAUW scholarships in their names.
Each branch and at state and national levels raises funds for fellowships and grants for women and girls
Powell said.
According to the AAUW's Web site, www.aauw.org, the AAUW Educational Foundation is the largest endowment in the world providing support exclusively to women.
OU senior Casey Spolrich-Hitchcock is a recipient of the Edith A. Wray Scholarship, a scholarship funded by the Athens branch of AAUW. Spolrich-Hitchcock receives an average of $2,500 a year towards her tuition.
It's the only scholarship I've been able to maintain for all four years
she said.
The Athens AAUW also raises funds to send two girls to Be WISE Math and Science Camp, a mathematics, science and technology camp for 7th- and 8th-grade girls at Denison University.
Aside from financial contributions toward women's education, AAUW is also a lobbyist for state and national government issues that support a strong public education system and gender equity, said Jackie Evangelista, AAUW/Ohio co-public policy chair.
Although AAUW is strong on the national and state levels, it is an aging organization, said Evangelista.
Nationally
72 percent of members are over 60
she said. It would be nice to have young people take over the group.
College women can join AAUW as student affiliates and there are several student chapters in Ohio.
Spolrich-Hitchcock received a membership to AAUW with her scholarship and plans to continue membership with the organization after she graduates.
I think it's a really strong organization
she said. Giving money to anyone in this area is amazing; giving a four-year scholarship to a girl is even more amazing.
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