Soroptimist International awards $1,000 grant each to two women

Two deserving women were awarded grants by the Soroptimist International of the Northern Mariana Islands through their Live Your Dream project at the Kanoa Resort last Saturday.

College students Yulia Aleksenko and Rufina Flores Olupomar were awarded $1,000 in financial help as they attend college while being the primary financial support of their family. This is the first time that SI-NMI helped two women.

Yulia Aleksenko is one of the awardees of the Soroptimist International-Northern Mariana Islands’ Live Your Dream program this year. She received $1,000 to help with her education as she also continues to provide and work for her family. (Contributed Photo)

“The scoring was incredibly close so we just gave out $2,000,” SI-NMI president Jill Arenovski said. “Our club is doing a little better and we were able to give a second award.”

According to Arenovski, the funds are awarded to the recipient to be used for any purpose she chooses. She can use it for child care so she can attend classes and study, or to purchase transportation to class, or to buy food for her family.

Aleksenko who is from Russia but has been on island for 20 years, works full time and attends the Northern Mariana College at night to study Business Administration. She said she wasn’t able to finish college in her younger years because all she did was work for a living.

Aleksenko said the $1,000 will be a big help not only for her schooling but for her son as well. Aside from working full time, she is also a full time mom to a 9-year-old boy who also attends Russian language school and swimming lessons in addition to his regular school.

“I’m very proud to be part of this program,” Aleksenko said. “Every semester I’ve been struggling but now I know I should really go and never give up.”

Aleksenko said she wants to encourage women to continue their dream despite life’s challenges.

“Even if you don’t have any money in your pocket, if you have a goal, you have to keep going,” she said.

The other recipient, Olupomar, is in her first year at Dixie State University, studying for a nursing degree.

“She lost both her parents at an early age and was left responsible for four younger sisters,” Arenovski said in her introduction of Olupomar.

Olupomar, who is currently in the U.S. mainland, wasn’t able to attend the awarding.

SI-NMI also gave $100 to a third applicant, Jordan Reyes Agulto. The applications of the three were judged by non-Soroptimist members.

LYD is the signature event of all Soroptimist clubs worldwide as they aim to empower women through education.