Ryan Schwartz was selected to receive a $2,500 STAR Scholarship from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was recommended by P.E.O. Chapter G of Oak Ridge.
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship was established in 2009 to provide scholarships for exceptional women in their final year of high school to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the U.S. or Canada in the next academic year. The competitive STAR Scholarship is for women who exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and potential for future success, according to a news release.
Schwartz, a graduate of the Webb School of Knoxville, will attend the University of Virginia this fall. She plans to major in political science, and hopes to work to reduce poverty and improve health care. She was inspired to pursue this career path after participating in Youth Leadership Knoxville, a year-long program that gives around 50 students a year training in leadership skills, and an opportunity to meet and work with community and business leaders in our area. Her cohort did a poverty budget simulation that opened her eyes to how many families in this area are barely scraping by.
Chapter G has been a part of the Oak Ridge community since it was organized in 1948. Chapter members hope to award another STAR scholarship this spring, and are currently searching for high school seniors to interview. 
The group also awards scholarships to women going back to school after taking a break, graduate students, and international students. It owns Cottey College in Missouri, and has offered low interest student loans to women for over 100 years.

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