Linda Lael Miller - Scholarship Winners

Current Winners | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

Linda Lael Miller Awards Scholarships
To Women Who Overcome Adversity

Spokane, WA-A Washington author who knows what it's like to struggle is awarding scholarships this week to six women 25 years and older who have overcome such adversities as spousal abuse and the death of children to pursue their educational dreams.

The grants, from $800 to $1000, are Linda Lael Miller's way of helping women who don't usually qualify for traditional scholarships. Moreover, Linda Lael Miller's Scholarships for Women may be used not only for tuition and books but also for childcare, transportation and other expenses not usually covered by scholarships

This is the fifth year for Miller's self-funded scholarship competition. The New York Times bestselling author of more than 70 novels about women who succeed despite overwhelming odds said more than 1000 entered this year's competition. Entries were judged based on essays that convey why the applicants need the funds and what an impact a scholarship would have on their lives and the lives of their families.

Once a struggling single parent, Miller endured her share of hardships before her talent and perseverance paid off and her books scored berths on all the major bestseller lists. Her next novel, McKettrick's Choice, a sweeping historical set in Arizona and Texas, will be published by HQN Books in March.

About her program, Miller said, from her home outside Spokane, "Educate a woman, and you will impact endless future generations. These grants enable the winners to demonstrate to their children and to their children's children that a woman can overcome adversity and succeed, through education."

The winners of 2006 Linda Lael Miller's Scholarships for Women are:

Jennifer Pugh, 28, of Lorain, OH, decided to pursue nursing after giving birth to her special needs son when she was a teenager. "My son is physically and mentally handicapped, but I had a wonderful nurse who made me comfortable with my son's disabilities and with myself as a mother," Pugh said.

Pugh cares for her children, ages 10, 7, and 3, and her husband, who is recovering from a heart attack and spinal compression. She also works for The Murray Ridge School for mentally and physically handicapped children and attends Lorain County Community College, where she was recently named to the National Dean's List.

A full-time student at Manchester Community College, Springfield, MA, Tonja Edwards is a single mother of three majoring in criminal justice. She aspires to attend law school and eventually provide counsel for youth offenders. She already volunteers her time to several organizations dealing with troubled children by participating in home visits, group facilitation, home interventions and acting as a court liaison.

Edwards believes in the power of a positive role model. "For Christmas, my children and I collected, purchased, wrapped and distributed toys to needy children whom attend inner city schools. I will never forget the look of great appreciation in the eyes of so many children," she said.

Angela Monroe, 31, of Lee's Summit, MO, is a single mother of six boys ages four months to 14 years, one of whom is deaf. A recovered alcoholic and survivor of a 10-year abusive relationship, Monroe is interested in healing on all levels. She aspires to open a rehabilitation institute that will offer mind, body and spirit renewing.

"I want to show people with addictive personalities that healing is a process that takes place once you've truly admitted a problem," Monroe said.

She attends the University of Missouri - Kansas City and maintains a 3.0 GPA. With six pairs of eyes constantly looking to her as an example, she seeks to gain her bachelor's degree, demonstrating perseverance, responsibility, commitment and discipline.

After leaving a physically abusive marriage, 32-year-old April Thomas of Cary, NC lost everything except the clothes on her back.

"My ex-husband burned my house down, and I had to move out of state to start over. I just hope somebody else in a similar situation can see that there is a way out, and if they can find that opening to take it and break free," Thomas said.

Thomas studies nursing at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC. Aspiring to work as a trauma nurse, Thomas divides her time between school, clinical hours at the hospital, serving as senator for the student association and attending Phi Beta Kappa meetings.

Adelaida Cardenas, 52, of Security, CO, is only six classes away from graduating with a degree in business administration from Regis University in Denver. Although she works full-time at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, she spends much of her time at a local soup kitchen, cooking for the senior citizen hall and raising money for various charities with the Ladies Auxiliary Fraternal Order of Eagles. She also volunteers as a translator to children who are battling cancer.

"I am a strong believer in education, and I passed this belief on to my daughter," Cardenas said. "She excelled in school, was on the honor roll and was a member of the Honor Society in the last year of her life. She died at the age of 13 from leukemia. It took me quite a while to get over her loss and get back on my feet, but I did, and I decided to go back to school to earn a four-year degree."

In 1996, Cherri Lynn Smith, 51, of Keller, TX, was enrolled in college pursuing a nursing degree when her 16-year-old son was killed. "My world was turned upside down. But now, after years of working office jobs, I can finally move on and finish what I started," Smith said.

With one year left to complete the medical assistant program at Everest College, Fort Worth, TX, Smith hopes to work as a medical assistant in a children's hospital. She maintains straight As and has two sons living at home. She also raises her grandson and works for an insurance company.

"I have had a rough life," she admits. "And I want to have the career I have always dreamed of, which is making children happy and making them feel better. I will devote the rest of my life to this goal of seeing a child's face light up and knowing I am helping them mentally and physically."

The rules and application form for Miller's 2006-2007 scholarship competition will be posted on www.lindalaelmiller.com in May. For more information contact Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, c/o Nancy Berland Public Relations, Inc., 2816 NW 57th St., Suite 101, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, 800-308-3169.