Meet the 2003 Winners...
| Michael Cordaro lives in Roselle, Illinois where he attends the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was the winner of the $7,500 OPWA Scholarship in honor of Toshiyuki Horie, Pentel of America, LTD. Cordaro has a double major in Finance and Accounting and plans to attend graduate school at Northwestern University. He manages his own residential painting business gaining the experience to start his own investment firm.
Cordaro is active in extracurricular pursuits serving in various executive positions at Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and participating in community services for the National Honors Society. He was very active last December in the Champaign Police "Shop With Cops" program for need children and the Warm Clothes Drive. He is also a James Scholar Award winner at the University of Illinois. He loves sports and when he finds the time, enjoys a round of golf. He was an honor caddie at The Medinah Country Club before entering college.
His mother, Karen Cordaro, is employed by S.P. Richards Company's Chicago Distribution Center in Elk Grove Village, Illinois |
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| Nicholas Stone is a two-time winner of the OPWA Scholarship. This year he qualified for the $5,000 OPWA Scholarship in honor of David Anderson, Richards Pen Shop, Spokane, Washington. He is on the Dean's List for the third consecutive semester as a junior at Saint Louis University where he is pursuing a degree in elementary education. Graduate School will be his next step for a degree in Administration-Higher Education.
Stone loves basketball and was the student manager for the St. Louis University Billikens and a volunteer assisting the Ladies Billikens. He has served as a volunteer for the American Red Cross 911 fund, Blood Drives and a low income housing clean-up project.
Nick worked part-time at Cardinal Brands, and at one time packed ring binders into cartons and prepared them for shipping.
Debbie Stone is employed by Cardinal Brands, Washington, Missouri. |
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| Katie Coleman, is a three-time winner, will begin her senior year at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. She is majoring in English writing and has a double minor in Hispanic studies and political science. She's the editor-in-chief for the Campus newspaper, The Argus, and interns with a media relations department, participates in the university's School of Music and is on the schools Multicultural Task Force, all while maintaining a grade point average of 3.47. Her career goal is to be a University Professor.
"I cannot tell you how invaluable your assistance has been," says Coleman. "Financially, it has helped me cross hurdles that would have otherwise impeded my ability to learn ad grow as I have. But fiscal assistance aside, it has also boosted my confidence to know there are people out there - in addition to my loving family - who believe in me enough to support me in such a generous way. I hope that you will continue this scholarship program indefinitely so that it may help others students."
Katie's father, Edward Coleman, is a Maintenance Technician for Fellowes Manufacturing Company, Itasca, Illinois. |
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| Megan Hannon is from Burnsville, Minnesota where she graduated from high school with distinction. She is a member of the National Honors Society and achieved a 3.89 grade point average at Burnsville High School. She is an avid volunteer in her community working with the YMCA, Preschool Project Kids and Caring & Sharing Hands.
Hannon played varsity soccer and achieved the Minnesota Coaches Association Academic Excellence Award. She will be attending the University of Minnesota.
Megan is working at Lee Products Company as well as her mother, Joleen Hannon, who serves as Lee Products' controller. |
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| Jessica Byrns is a two-time winner of an OPWA Scholarship. The $3,000 award winner is a student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. In her freshman year, she served as secretary for her residence hall on their Hall Council Board. She also worked on the Northern Star, the community newspaper run by the college. Byrns is practicing the acoustic guitar. She is also active in community affairs such as the Walk for AIDS and the Relay for Life. Entering her second year, her major is accounting. She will be a Community Advisor in charge of 49 residents helping to provide a safe community environment and help to the incoming freshmen. She will also be a Peer Instructor for the University 101 class that assists freshman with adapting to college life.
Jessica's father, Stephan Byrns, is employed by Fellowes Manufacturing Company, Itasca, Illinois, as a Plant Superintendent. |
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| "OPWA Educational Foundation," Denise Aguilar says, "thank you for another great opportunity in my start of a new life! I will be the first in my entire family to be accepted to a four-year university. I come from a Hispanic family where hard work was an obstacle we always had to face. Coming across rigorous challenges was tough, but with my family's support I balanced myself very well and never gave up."
Aguilar graduated from high school with honors and grade point average of 3.5 and is the winner of a $2,000 OPWA Scholarship. California State University-Fullerton will be her new home for the next four years.
Roberto Aguilar is Denise's father, and works for Esselte Corporation in Los Angeles, California. |
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| Heather Boatwright is a graduate of Muscle Shoals High School in Alabama. In high school, she participated in the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Science Olympiad. Heather will be attending Northwest Shoals Community College this fall. She plans to transfer to Auburn University to pursue a degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences, followed by the Auburn Veterinary School to be certified as a D.V.M. Her goal is to open her own animal clinic.
Heather's father, Scott Boatwright, is employed by E.S. Robbins in sales. |
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| Brandon Daniels is currently a second year graduate student at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Higher Education Administration, with an emphasis in Student Affairs Administration ands a minor in educational Management. In 2002, Brandon graduated from the University of North Texas where he received a Bachelors Degree in English. While at North Texas, Brandon received many accolades and awards, including the North Texas Outstanding Student Leader Award Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities and was honored in Ebony Magazine as one of the few African American Student Body Presidents at majority institutions. He plans to graduate from FSU in April, 2004 and then start his Ph.D. in Educational Administration at the University of Wisconsin.
Darlene Daniels is employed by the Smead Manufacturing Company in McGregor, Texas and is Brandon's mother. |
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| Christopher Knight will be a freshman this fall at the University of Maine at Orono majoring in mechanical engineering. This $2,000 OPWA Scholarship Award winner was a member of the National Honor Society, Who's Who Among American High School Students and graduated with a GPA of 92.58. Chris is the State of Maine Singles Boys Bowling Scratch Champion, All Events Boy's Scratch Champion and Travel Tournament Handicap Champion this past year. Chris was recommended by his aunt, Cheryl Tilton, who is employed by Saunders, USA, Winthrop, Maine. | |
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