The Eva L. Pancoast Memorial Fund by which women graduates of The College of Arts and Sciences and women graduate students in The College of Arts and Sciences might be assisted in extending their education by foreign study or foreign travel, or both, at any time during the 12 months following their graduation.

Congratulations to Lauren Menke and Sophia Peterson, this year’s recipients.

Lauren Menke (featured left) will be graduating with a major in Nutrition and a double minor in Spanish and Chemistry in spring  2024.  After graduation, she will spend the 2024-2025 academic year in Madrid, Spain working as an English Language Assistant. As part of the Meddeas program, she will be responsible for leading activities and facilitating conversations in English with groups of 12-15 year old students. The funds from the Eva L. Pancoast Memorial Fellowship will help cover travel costs, VISA expenses, and other necessities not covered by the teaching program’s stipend.  After Lauren’s gap year, she plans to pursue medical school.

Sophia Peterson (featured left) is honored to have the opportunity to travel to Chile next spring for a two-month program funded through the Eva L. Pancoast Memorial Fellowship. Beginning January 2025, she will spend three weeks in the vibrant port city of Valparaiso and the capital Santiago taking intensive Spanish classes to improve her language fluency. This immersive experience will be followed by four weeks of volunteering, where she hopes to work on a farm or ranch in a rural area where she can learn from and contribute to the local community. She looks forward to expanding her understanding of the challenges faced by Chilean communities while strengthening her Spanish communication skills — both crucial aspects in preparing for a future career as an international human rights lawyer.