This week marks a bit of a milestone in the Maria Luisa world.
It was some four years ago when Maria Luisa Whittingham was able to fulfill a longtime dream, creating a namesake scholarship program that would support and encourage the next generation of female leaders.
She launched the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship program, administered by the Rockland Community Foundation, back in 2014.
And this week, she will – for the first time in the program’s young history – present not one but two scholarships to local graduating seniors.
These awards will be given during the 2018 ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Presentation reception, to be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday (May 10) at Maria Luisa Boutique.
Family, educators, friends, community members and our ML community – you, our loyal customers – are invited to join us as we celebrate the achievements of this year’s winners.
Scholarships of $1,000 each will be presented to Ruth Uriarte of Nyack High School and Katherine Marie Bacolas of Clarkstown South High School.
These young women were selected as best exemplifying the award’s criteria: being Rockland County high school female seniors who, through their actions or beliefs, embrace the principles of ML by Maria Luisa that include civic and community involvement, as well as a commitment to social justice, social equality, and environment/eco-friendly lifestyles.
The awards are designed to assist with costs of attending a college of their choice. This year, the program was expanded in two important ways. A second scholarship was added to specifically recognize a student attending Nyack High School, in honor of the community that has long supported Maria Luisa and her business. The 2018 program was also expanded to include nominations from those who identify as female, as well.
As Maria has said, “The empowerment of young women is high on my list of priorities.”
And in a nod to the way she herself benefited from a scholarship during her college years, one that allowed her to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, she has also noted, “The ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund is my way of paying it forward.”
We hope you will join us from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday as Maria Luisa officially presents the 2018 awards – and recognize the accomplishments of these young women.
And we thank you, of course, for your ongoing support of our scholarship program.
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For more, or to donate to the 2019 effort, visit marialuisaboutique.com/maria-luisa-scholarship-fund or rocklandgives.org.
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