January 04, 2024
27th annual Celebrate Women event includes new scholarship and more
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Plan now to be part of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 27th annual Celebrate Women: Honoring Inclusive Excellence Benefit for Women’s Scholarships.
The event is set for March 28 at the Helleny Pavilion in the SIU Banterra Center, and the theme is “No Limits: Women in Aviation.” That’s most fitting as guest speaker Christine Zoerlein Albertson is both an aviation alumna and accomplished pilot and because this year marks the establishment of a new scholarship in honor of longtime aviation faculty member Lorelei Ruiz, who recently retired.
Big event details
The purpose of Celebrate Women is two-fold: It’s a time to honor women of the region, including SIU students, for their accomplishments and contributions, and it is a fundraiser for scholarships for current and future female Saluki standouts.
It begins with a silent auction from 4:45 to 6 p.m., and there will be a light dinner reception 5-6 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony, welcome by SIU System President Dan Mahoney and guest speaker.
Albertson, a 2008 SIU aviation management graduate, will present the keynote address. She joined her father, an American Airlines captain, on a Take Your Daughter to Work Day at age 9 and decided to follow in his footsteps, which she did by earning her civilian flight ratings at SIU. She was also a member of the Saluki women’s golf team.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, she earned an Air Force pilot position, flying the C-17 Globemaster for more than 14 years. During the course of her career, she has flown to more than 30 countries in peaceful and hostile situations and earned two air medals. She is currently a major in the Mississippi Air National Guard.
After wrapping up her active-duty career, she worked for SkyWest Airlines for two years and in 2016 secured a position with American Airlines. She has flown as a first officer on the Airbus 320, Boeing 737 and currently flies the Boeing 787 to European destinations from Chicago O’Hare Airport. Albertson has also served on the board of directors for the International Society of Women Airline Pilots.
Special presentations
Several scholarships and awards will be given during the evening, including the inaugural Lorelei Ruiz Women in Aviation AAUW Scholarship. Ruiz joined the SIU faculty in 2000 and recently retired as associate professor. She also served for many years as director of SIU’s Summer Wings Aviation Camp. The $500 scholarship bearing her name will go to a female SIU student entering the field of aviation.
Other scholarships awarded include the undergraduate Lelia Marvin AAUW Scholarship for a John A. Logan College student completing a degree there and enrolling at SIU and the Anna Morris Graduate and Joyce A. Kelly (nontraditional) Graduate Scholarships, awarded to women studying law or medicine. The deadline to apply for all four scholarships is Feb. 9, with documents emailed to Martha Ellert at msellert@aol.com, who can also provide information regarding what to submit with the scholarship application.
Additional scholarships and awards may be presented as well.
Tickets available now
Tickets for the benefit are $30 per person or $15 for SIU students with a valid SIU ID.
For tickets, contact Martha Ellert at 618-521-0613 or msellert@aol.com. Make checks payable to AAUW. The proceeds of ticket sales and the silent auction will go toward scholarships to be awarded in 2025. Ellert can also provide information about the program.
Hosts for the event include the American Association of University Women – Carbondale Branch; Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and the Vice Chancellor for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Additional sponsorships are also welcomed. For more information, contact Bobbi Knapp, co-director of the Socio-Psychology Laboratory and associate professor of sport studies in the School of Human Sciences, at bknapp@siu.edu.