We are pleased to introduce our scholarship recipients, the following four women, for the American Association of University Women (AAUW), National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) scholarship.

Sophia Sanchez is currently attending Smith College and plans to graduate in 2022 with a degree in Government with a focus on International Relations. She has studied in Russia and is fluent in 3 languages. Sophia is a Hastings High graduate.

Natalie Sorenson attends the University of Minnesota, Morris. She is currently a Sophomore. Natalie graduated from Hastings High School and has been employed by the Hasting Aquatic Center and The Tree House. She has an extensive list of extracurricular and volunteer positions.

Two students from Dakota County Technical College also will be attending. One will graduate in 2021 in the LPN program. She is intent upon going on to achieve her BSN. She is a first generation Laotian American to attend college. She wants to be a model for other Asian Americans like herself and bring her diverse cultural background to the conference. She is from Apple Valley.

The second Dakota County Technical College student has a MA in Instruction from St Mary’s University and has taught French at the High School level. She is a first generation Vietnamese American. Her education goals have changed and she is currently enrolled at DCTC in the Computer Programming degree curriculum. She is lives in St Paul.

This year, AAUW invites hundreds of college women from around the country for two days, May 25-26, of virtual leadership training, inspiration and networking at the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. The 2021 program is shaping up to be the biggest, boldest NCCWSL yet! At NCCWSL, they will build their leadership skills across our five core learning objectives:

• Leadership development

• Professional development

• Activism

• Wo m e n ’ s issues

• Identity and diversity AAUW Hastings Branch congratulates our NCCWSL 2021 scholarship recipients!