SPECIAL | feature
UPLIFTED BY P.E.O., BULGARIAN WOMAN ACHIEVES DREAM OF STUDYING IN THE U.S.
Borislava and Nicholas (far right) with Chapter BE members Sally Toepfer, Lois Langlois, Carol Maglietta and Marjorie Phillips
by Jan Wicks, BE, Freeport, Illinois
Borislava Marcheva-Strychacz, EL, Berkeley, California, was a Bulgarian teenager in 1999 when her dream was to study in the United States. She had prepared by attending an English- speaking high school in her homeland and by scoring well on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. With her family unable to afford a university education in Bulgaria, she needed a full scholarship.
tuition and room and board. At Cottey, I blossomed. I felt empowered as a woman to develop my skill set, and to explore subjects I didn’t know a lot about, such as world religions, business law and ethics. Most importantly, I felt as though I had a future again.” Borislava graduated with honors from Cottey College and was accepted at Smith College, where she completed
has frequently visited her P.E.O. friends in Freeport, once to introduce her husband, Nicholas; now they have two beautiful daughters. Chapter BE has been enlivened and enhanced by the experience of being a mentor, supporter and cheerleader for this remarkable woman. Borislava says, “I don’t for a second think twice when friends ask me what
Borislava’s mother knew a work colleague who had studied English in Freeport, Illinois, with Lois Harlan, BE, Freeport, Illinois. Through Lois, Borislava learned about Cottey College and the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Lois and Chapter
contributed to my educational and professional success the most. It was chapter BE in Freeport, the entire P.E.O. organization and my dear friend Lois Harlan, who is no longer with us. I have been truly blessed and hope to
“I don’t for a second think twice when friends ask me what contributed to my educational and professional success the most. It was chapter BE in Freeport, the entire P.E.O. organization and my dear friend Lois Harlan, who is no longer with us.” – BORISLAVA
BE members eventually put the wheels in motion to bring Borislava to Freeport and helped her go to Cottey College with scholarship funds. Borislava says, “It is difficult to even begin describing everything that Chapter BE and the entire P.E.O. organization has done for me. Through the chapter’s incredible generosity, I was able to make my dream come true and not only was I accepted to Cottey, but was able to pay for the
her bachelor’s degree, again with honors. After working for a while in Washington D.C., she returned to graduate study at Johns Hopkins University where she received her master’s degree with honors and joined the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Today she is director of market insights at Rally Health in Washington, D.C. Certainly she is an amazing woman with an exceptional work ethic, compassion and loyalty. She
be able to pay it forward one day.” How fascinating to imagine “the full import of P.E.O.” when duplicating this success story worldwide by all of our P.E.O. projects! We are truly an organization which celebrates the advancement of women; educates women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and the stewardship of Cottey College; and motivates women to achieve their highest aspirations.
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THE P.E.O. RECORD | May–June 2022
Women helping women reach for the stars
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