Two UWindsor graduate students — both alumnae of the women’s and gender studies program — will receive scholarships worth $5,000 each during the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Athena luncheon Friday, November 2.

Athena scholarships reward community involvement and potential for leadership as well as academic achievement. This year’s recipients are:

Sydney Chapados (BA 2018) is currently pursuing master’s studies in sociology at the University of Windsor. Her community involvement includes volunteering at the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women, We Love Windsor West, and the West Side Church of Christ community clothing drive. Her focus on women in leadership includes a term as president of Women in Leadership, and helping to organize the 2017 Women’s March on Washington and the 2018 March in Windsor.

Erin Dufour (BA 2017) is a master’s candidate in applied human performance at the University of Windsor. Her passion to make a difference in the lives of women led her to serve as president of Women in Leadership and on the board of Leadership Advancement for Women and Sport (LAWS). She helped co-create the Female Youth Collaborative mentorship program at the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society.

Holly Nicholson graduated from St. Clair College with a diploma in business administration and was active in the college’s student government as well as with the Windsor-Essex Humane Society, the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, and Girl Guides of Canada - Windsor Unit. 

Shelly Fellows, vice-president of operations for manufacturing technology firm Radix, will deliver a keynote presentation entitled “Fierce Leadership” during Friday’s luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. at the Fogolar Furlan Club. Tickets are $45, available online at www.windsorchamber.org or by phoning 519-966-3696.