Elena Pauker of Glenview, Illinois, Winner of the 2021 Plum Cares Academic Scholarship
Elena Pauker of Glenview, Illinois, has been selected as the 2021 Plum Cares Academic Scholarship (PCAS) winner. This is a one-time scholarship of $5,000 which will be devoted to Pauker's studies at Washington University in St. Louis, where she intends to pursue a degree in Finance come Fall of 2021 and be a part of the University's club gymnastics team.
This year is the 4th annual PCAS, where each spring, Plum Practicewear, a leading online retailer of gymnastics apparel and accessories, opens its application process for gymnasts across the country. The scholarship was made available to graduating high school seniors who identify as competitive gymnasts within one of the following disciplines: artistic, rhythmic, acrobatic, tumbling, or trampoline.
Pauker is a recent graduate of Glenbrook South High School and has finished as a Level 10 gymnast from the American Academy of Gymnastics. Since the age of thirteen, Pauker has dreamed of attending Washington University after visiting the campus on a family trip. She remembers the school feeling "castle-like" and felt like she was entering a "magical kingdom." Five years and lots of hard work later, Pauker is joining the ranks of the community she once fantasized about being a part of.
Despite countless hours in the gym, Pauker still managed to keep up with her schoolwork while also serving in several leadership roles. Since 2017, she was a member of the Glenbrook South High School Model United Nations team, leading the group as a three-year executive board member. Also, since 2017, she was a varsity member and Build Captain of her school's Science Olympiad team.
Pauker is no stranger to lending a helping hand in her Glenview community as well. Between tutoring at the Glenbrook South Titan Learning Center, volunteering at her local library teaching young readers, and serving on the North Shore Legal Aid Clinic Regional Board, she has undoubtedly had an impact in her local neighborhood.
She began her professional career at a young age, serving as a Wilmette Gymnastics coach for the past four years and working as a marketing intern at Steelike Inc., a concrete manufacturer. Her endeavors have allowed her to learn valuable skills she hopes to expand on in her Finance studies.
Having competed in gymnastics for the past eleven years, Pauker is not ready to abandon her roots and has plans to give back to the sport differently. She is excited about joining the co-ed gymnastics club at Washington University, which will give her a chance to try the pommel horse, an event traditionally reserved for male competitors. She even dreams of developing her own gymnastics apparel line one day.
Plum's goal has always been to inspire young gymnasts through positivity and compassion, and Pauker is an excellent embodiment of that mission. During a year that continued to be difficult in so many ways, she balanced academics, athletics, and giving back to others - a feat that deserves to be recognized.
When asked about winning the PCAS, Pauker stated, "Being awarded the Plum scholarship is a great honor. I am thankful for the support from the Plum community as I embark on a new chapter of my life. I am looking forward to broadening my business skills and becoming an impactful leader."
Pauker was selected out of 44 applicants who were required to provide a recent copy of their transcripts, a letter of recommendation, a 500-word essay, and a completed application detailing their participation in extracurricular activities and volunteer work. The applications were scored on a 100-point rubric that were based upon the following criteria: academics (grades) = 40 points, the essay = 30 points, extra-curricular/volunteerism = 20 points, and the letter of recommendation = 10 points.
To learn more about the Plum Cares Academic Scholarship, visit PlumPracticewear.com. Applications for the 2022 scholarship program will be announced in April 2022.