Since 1895, the University Women’s Club of Ohio State has been serving the university community.
Yesterday, they continued that service by awarding scholarships to 24 female OSU students.
“We’re extremely proud of the students because they all come with super-high GPAs,” said Barbara Bouton, former president and current Web master. “We’re very proud of these women.”
“These scholarships have been going on for 38 years,” said Pat Worthington, president of the club. “We’re really quite proud of what we do and we’re proud of the women who receive our scholarships.”
Five of the 24 scholarship recipients attended the organization’s monthly program yesterday and were introduced to club members.
Lacy Case, a sophomore in pre-education, said she felt honored to be awarded a scholarship.
“It’s nice to know that someone is out there looking at what I’m doing,” she said.
“Tuition is so high. I need all the help I can get. It’s hard to pay the bills and tuition too,” Case said. “It helps a lot. Anything helps. I appreciate everything.”
Elizabeth Neer, a junior in vocal performance, was awarded the Nina Weigel Music Scholarship.
“I wasn’t expecting a scholarship at all,” Neer said. “It made my weekend.”
Athena Kostantis, a junior in Spanish, said, “The scholarship has done me a lot of good.
“I didn’t think I could (win a scholarship),” Kostantis said. “But it’s really cool. I’m really glad they honored me with it.”
The women’s club raises most of the money for the scholarships through its thrift shop, Buckeye Bargains. This money funds the club, the Marjorie K. Fawcett and the Nina Weigel Scholarship Funds.
The Marjorie K. Fawcett Scholarship Fund was established in 1971 in honor of Marjorie Fawcett, wife of former OSU President Novice G. Fawcett. The scholarship goes to junior or senior women and is based on academic performance and financial need.
The Nina Weigel Music Scholarship Fund was established in 1951 in memory of Nina Weigel. The scholarship goes to undergraduate female music majors.
In the 2003-04 school year, $15,500 was raised for the scholarship funds, making a total of $307,000 given in the 38 years of Buckeye Bargins’ operation.
Joan Rinker Kisling, assistant director of the Office of Student Financial Aid, said the average award this year was $1,500.
“(Buckeye Bargains) has an amazing amount of items,” Worthington said. “Some of the stuff is new, some of it gently used, also Buckeye, OSU items.”
“I think it’s a great place for people to come visit when they’re on campus,” said Colleen Houser, chairwoman of Buckeye Bargains, while wearing a blue sweater she purchased there.
Houser said Buckeye Bargains sells everything from pots, pans and dishes to clothes, blankets and books.
Everything at Buckeye Bargains is donated. Houser said donations come from a number of places including members, Boy Scout garage sales and students.
Bonnie Stevens said the hardest thing is to get students into the shop because the University Women’s Club does not spend money on advertising.
“It’s a great place,” Stevens said. “We love the purpose of why we’re there.”
Buckeye Bargains is located in the northwest corner in the basement of Converse Hall, 2121 Tuttle Park Place. Buckeye Bargains is open every Wednesday during the school year from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is closed between quarters and during summer quarter.
With almost 400 members, the University Women’s Club accomplishes a number of tasks. It contains 21 interest groups covering areas such as gardening, genealogy and antiques.
Cosmopolitan is an interest group that focuses on international events, food and traditions. Daytrippers is an interest group that seeks to explore sites in Columbus in one day.
Elizabeth Shaudys, a 50-year member of the University Women’s Club this year, has been involved with the interest group toymakers since 1954 and said it is her favorite.
“We make stuffed animals for different charitable groups,” Shaudys said.
Shaudys said toymakers is making stuffed animals for the James Cancer Hospital and CHOICES, a battered women’s shelter.
“They have darling things,” said Myrna Mumm, its president-elect. “They really do.”
“I’m totally amazed at what the club manages to do,” Mumm said. “(It) has a long history of service to the university. It’s a highly coordinated club. The women are very nice in this club. Many are wives of faculty members.”
“It’s a wonderful outlet for me now that I’m retired to be associated with people I have things in common with,” Mumm said.
Mumm’s connections to Ohio State date back for quite some time. She graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in 1952, a master’s in 1968 and a doctorate in 1974, all in the speech, hearing and audiology department.
Mumm then taught classes in the speech and hearing department at OSU in the 1980s.
“(Teaching at OSU) was very interesting and I liked it very much,” Mumm said. “I loved everything that I did.”
