P.E.O. EDUCATIONAL LOAN FUND | ELF
Searching for ELF Applicants… IN THE WORKPLACE by Laurel Andrew, P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund Board of Trustees As with many things in life, getting started is the hardest part of securing a loan from the P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (ELF), and that often means finding the qualified applicant! Let’s explore how three chapters connected with their ELF recipients through the workplace.
Valeriya Chulykina will graduate in June from Santa Clara University with a degree in mechanical engineering. As one of the only women engineers in the firm where she did a summer internship, Valeriya easily gravitated to Audrey Oldenkamp, Chapter CW, Oregon City, Oregon. The two women bonded over lunches and eventually had a conversation about scholarships and how Valeriya was able to afford school expenses.
ELF recipient Amber Guzzo and P.E.O. Priscilla Sayeed
Amber Guzzo was selected for a two-year internship at a financial services firm
in Des Moines, Iowa, just before heading overseas in January 2020 for the spring semester. When the pandemic forced her to return home prematurely, she started her internship early and remotely. Despite not meeting in person for the entire first year, Amber became a vital and productive member of the client advisory services team headed by Priscilla Sayeed, Chapter HY, Des Moines, Iowa. Priscilla had previously been involved in submitting at least four ELF applications and the thought that Amber might be interested in applying for an ELF loan came to her as they discussed the cost of student debt and interest rates with a client. As financial planners, Priscilla appreciates ELF’s 2 percent interest rate and repayment plan and Amber notes that ELF has “better terms than even other private loans!” Amber enjoys helping people with their personal financial planning and plans to work after her graduation from Drake University before pursuing graduate work in finance, economics or math—and to stay in touch with Priscilla and Chapter HY.
ELF recipient Valeriya Chulykina
Valeriya studies mechanical engineering
P.E.O. Audrey Oldenkamp
Audrey is a “great advocate” for women, says Pat Krumm of the Chapter CW education committee, and has recommended several women to her chapter for the P.E.O. projects. It was only natural that she encouraged Valeriya to apply for an ELF loan. Valeriya says that because of other scholarships she received, the ELF loan “was the perfect amount to finish paying for my last years of school.” Valeriya’s career interest is in sustainability and she is currently doing research with a professor on non-traditional HVAC systems. Her internship last summer focused on energy efficiency for data centers and she looks forward to working in energy efficiency and project engineering. Valeriya can count on Audrey’s mentorship and Chapter CW’s support as she launches her career. ..... Since graduating from Spelman College, Brianna* has been working as the chief medical scribe in the emergency room of the hospital where Madalyn Ivy, Chapter AB, Columbus, Mississippi, is a pharmacist. During the two years the women have known each other, Madalyn introduced Brianna to each of the P.E.O. projects to determine which would best meet her needs as she pursues her master’s degree in biomedical science. In her recommendation, Madalyn observed Brianna to be reliable, productive, altruistic and ambitious and an asset to her department, and described her as “passionate about closing the gap for avoidable maternal and infant mortality rates and disparities.” Brianna’s ultimate career goal is to be a researching OB/GYN advocating for women’s health, education and prevention. Perhaps she will be a convention speaker or P.E.O. sister, too! ELF applicants are everywhere, including in the workplace. Through thoughtful inquiry and conversation with your coworkers or interns, you also just may find your chapter’s next applicant for the P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund!
* Name has been changed to protect the recipient’s privacy
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March–April 2022 | THE P.E.O. RECORD
WWW.PEOINTERNATIONAL.ORG
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