AAUW and Cottey form partnership

Nevada Daily Mail

Two of Nevada's oldest women's organizations, the Nevada branch of the American Association of University Women and Cottey College, have formed a partnership.

Cottey College Executive Director for Women's Leadership Sonia Cowen said the partnership resulted from the college's research into women leadership. With membership, Cottey students will be automatically accepted into the group.

"We're delighted to be in association with the Nevada branch," Cowen said.

The Nevada branch was formed in 1951. "We still have a charter member as part of our membership, Frances Jenkins," AAUW member Allison Fast said.

A member for 30 years, Fast finds a personal stake in the group.

"I have a daughter, and I want her to have a better world," Fast said.

Founded in 1881, AAUW's goal is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research with 165,000 members and supporters nationally, according to its website. The organization awarded 4.3 million fellowships and grants last year.

The Nevada branch gives $400 scholarships to high school seniors in the area.

"We alternate between a Nevada girl and each of the towns represented in our group," Fast said. "We sponsor one girl to go to Girls State. We also donate to the national organization's education fund and legal advocacy fund."

Fast said membership in Nevada has always been diverse in age and occupation. "It's just provided an opportunities to meet people that I wouldn't have normally crossed paths with," she said.

The cost to join the branch is $60 a year, $49 of which goes to the national organization and $10 goes to state. "We have a program called give a grad a gift, where graduates receive a free one year membership within two years of their graduation," Fast said.

The group's first monthly meeting is Tuesday.