P.E.O. Sisterhood awards Star Scholarship

The prestigious P.E.O. Star Scholarship for the 2014-15 academic year was presented to Hallie Gaitsch, a senior at Batavia High School.

Gaitsch, daughter of Tom and Lisa Gaitsch, was recommended for this scholarship by P.E.O. Chapter EA of Batavia.

The scholarship was presented at the school's senior honors recognition night awards ceremony by Gail Minella of Chapter EA.

Gaitsch has been accepted to attend Yale University where she plans to study molecular, cellular and developmental biology, beginning this fall.

The P.E.O. Star Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship based on excellence in leadership, extracurricular activities, community service, academics and potential for future success. The program is open to women who are citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States or Canada and who are graduating high school seniors at the time of application. A student must be recommended by a P.E.O. chapter.

The P.E.O. Sisterhood, founded Jan. 21, 1869, at Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is an international philanthropic and educational organization which promotes increased educational opportunities for women. There are nearly 6,000 local chapters in the United States and Canada with almost 250,000 initiated members.

The P.E.O. Sisterhood has over $250 million in financial assistance to over 95,000 recipients. It also owns Cottey College, a fully accredited, private liberal arts and sciences colleges for women, with two-year and selected four-year programs, located in Nevada, Missouri.

For information about the P.E.O. Star Scholarship, visit the website at peointernational.org.