Emporia State University was breaking barriers and breaking ground on a new organization Saturday.
The Emporia Associated Student Government held its annual Breaking Barriers: Women in Leadership Conference inside of the ESU Memorial Union through the morning hours. The keynote speaker for the event was Emporia State alum and business success therapist Terri Karjala who discussed how individuals can change “limiting beliefs and self-sabotage” through positive energy and action.
Following the morning sessions, attention shifted to the inaugural Women for ESU Symposium, which Karjala also served as the keynote speaker for. Women for ESU was founded last year with its main focus being to provide women with a chance to build their philanthropic investment options. Members give an annual gift of $1,000 if they are above age 35 and a $500 annual gift if they are 35 or younger.
Members who donate $25,000 or more join the Women for ESU lifetime list. In addition to networking and informational opportunities, the symposium also featured the first set of grant announcements through the new organization.
Right around $45,000 in grants were awarded to the following student-led projects:
*Corkys Career – $12,000
*”Tough” a play by Margo Connolley – $10,000
*A Place of Comfort and Calm: Creating Sensory Spaces Inside ESU Library -$10,000
*Hornet Huddle: Connection for TradPlus and Transfer Students – $8,000
*Sociology of Sport Day – $5,000
Women for ESU Grant Committee Chair Tina Khan tells KVOE News a total of 31 applications were submitted for the inaugural round of grant funding. She says the above projects were selected due to their diverse nature.
For more information on Women for ESU visit emporia.edu.
