YWCA Olympia Announces Their 2018 Young Woman of Achievement

YWCA Olympia Chinyelu Iwenofu
Tumwater High School student Chinyelu Iwenofu has been selected as the YWCA Olympia 2018 Young Woman of Achievement. Photo courtesy: YWCA Olympia
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Submitted by YWCA Olympia

Today YWCA Olympia announced that Tumwater High School student Chinyelu Iwenofu has been selected as their 2018 Young Woman of Achievement. As part of her award, Chinyelu will receive the 2018 Mary P. Dolciani Young Woman of Achievement Scholarship, awarded by the Mary P. Dolciani Halloran Foundation. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support to a young woman who has the aptitude and interest in pursuing a college major and career in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) or math education.

Chinyelu Iwenofu is a highly-regarded and driven youth leader. Her accomplishments are many in academics, extracurriculars and volunteering. Throughout all that she does, she aims to emphasize that all people should be valued, live free from oppression and thrive in a just society. Chinyelu has been involved with YWCA Olympia programs since middle school, participating in Girls Without Limits! (GWOL!) camps, Girls Circle and the Participatory Action Research group. Currently, she is a Junior Counselor for GWOL! As a young Woman of Color, she notes that YWCA Olympia’s mission to eliminate racism and sexism resonate with her.

Chinyelu also has excelled academically. She ranks in the top ten percent of her class, maintaining a 4.0 GPA at Tumwater High School, and has won awards in all subject areas, including math, science, and speech and debate. Additionally, she was selected to attend the University of Washington’s Young Black & Gifted program and to participate in the Museum of Flight’s Western Aerospace Scholars (WAS) STEM education program.  She is an active participant in both school extracurriculars and in her community. She is a member of the speech and debate team, tennis team, symphonic band, pep band, and Honor Society. Within the community, she is involved with Olympia Senior Center’s Sharing Teens and Elders Project (STEP) as well as volunteering at her high school’s library and she was involved with Planned Parenthood Olympia’s Teen Council.

Chinyelu plans to major in the STEM field in college, which will keep focus on her career goal of becoming a medical doctor specializing in infectious diseases.  The STEM field of study supports her long-term goal of making discoveries that will benefit humankind, such as conducting research and finding cures for diseases.

Chinyelu joins the other YWCA Honorees:

  • Sharonda Amamilo, Supervising Senior Defense attorney for the Juvenile and Dependency Division of the Thurston County Public Defense Office
  • Rosalinda Noriega, Pizza Klatch Executive Director
  • Shambricia Spencer, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest & the Hawaiian Islands Capacity Building Manager
  • Gabi M.S. Trautmann, Owner and operator of Olympic Cards & Comics
  • Business of Achievement: Washington State Department of Commerce Office of Homeless Youth Prevention & Protection

Established in 1994, the YWCA Olympia Womxn* of Achievement Award is one of the most prestigious honors for womxn and businesses in the South Sound and seeks to center and recognize the accomplishments, professional contributions, and public service performed by womxn in the community. The Womxn of Achievement award recognizes those who embody outstanding leadership qualities, are exceptionally committed to their community and/or profession, and live or work in the greater South Sound area.   Their Honorees are working to eliminate racism and sexism to empower womxn, have advanced the political, social and/or economic status of womxn and girls, and embody the YWCA’s vision of a world where all people are valued, live free from oppression, and thrive in a just society.

This year’s featured speaker is Kellie Richardson, Tacoma’s Poet Laureate, who will celebrate the 2018 Honorees by lifting up the superpower of storytelling, human connection, and how we hold love and justice at the center of community transformation.

When is the event? The Annual Womxn of Achievement Celebration will take place on Saturday, November 10at South Puget Sound Community College.

How much are tickets and where can I get them? Tickets are $65 per person ($50 for seniors/military and $30 student). Doors open for the main event at 5:30pm with a social hour.  Tickets information is available online at www.ywcaofolympia.org, under Events (2018 Womxn of Achievement). All proceeds benefit YWCA Olympia.

Who is supporting Womxn of Achievement? Once again Titus-Will has stepped up as the Womxn of Achievement Presenting Sponsor with Olympia Federal Savings and WSECU serving as our Leadership Sponsors.

For more information? Contact Cherie Reeves Sperr, Development Director at 352-0593 / crsperr@ywcaofolympia.org

*YWCA is using the “label” womxn to encompass a broader range of identities than woman. YWCA Olympia programs welcome women, girls, Two-Spirit, gender non-binary, and queer folks.

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