One of the oldest women’s organizations in the U.S. recently awarded Red Mountain High School student Mara Peterson one of its most prestigious honors, the Scholastic Talent Accomplishment Recognition (STAR) Scholarship.
Founded in 1869, The Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) is an Iowa-based Sisterhood, which, for more than a hundred years, has helped thousands of women reach their educational goals.
Local chairperson Marian Bass-Govinsky, a Las Sendas resident, Mesa chapter member and former educator in Mesa Public Schools, said, “Mesa has many branches of PEO, drawing women from all walks of life involved with promoting sisterhood. To date, more than 88,000 women have benefitted from their generosity.”
The STAR award is given not only for academic excellence, but also for women who have gone the extra step philanthropically. It was Marian who proposed Mara as a candidate, having been very impressed by an initial meeting with her. “She is truly one of the most selfless people I have ever met,” stated Marian. “Someone who has always looked out for others, and taken the most amazing initiative for such a young person.”
Mara, who lives in Thunder Mountain, said, “I am really surprised and also very happy to be selected.”
“The application process is quite rigorous. It’s a national award. I knew the competition would be stiff. So, it was wonderful news.”
Mara’s childhood was filled with volunteer and community service activities, including working at a camp for mentally challenged adults in Camp Verde, and collecting shoes for an organization dedicated to recycling shoes and distributing them internationally to the needy. She is one of only 275 students in the U.S. who won the scholarship, and one of two Arizona recipients.
Currently, a biomedical engineering student at Arizona State University, Mara hopes to help make medical advances in the field of genetics. With the help of her recent award, she is a bit closer to the reality of making the world a better place.
PEO annually sponsors five categories of scholarships.
For more information, contact Marion Bass-Govinsky at (480) 890-2863. Visit the Web site at www.peointernational.org.