Women supporting women

The first Women’s Education Leadership Initiative (WELI) program at Hartnell College feted its inaugural graduating class last week, when 26 young women received a diploma and a $1,500 scholarship for the fall semester.

The WELI program is a leadership-skills, mentorship and scholarship program that assists socially and economically challenged students. Fifty community business executives supports the WELI program, many of these leaders are from the IMPOWER group- sponsored by the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce- and have signed up to be career mentors for the WELI students.

Participants in the inaugural class of WELI attended a 16-hour leadership training where they received important information on self-image, time management, resources, budgeting, financial aid, and academic planning from several female executives from around the Salinas area.

Ana Hernández, a 21-year-old graduate of North Salinas High, is studying biology and plans to transfer to UC Davies and eventually become a doctor. She was one of the 26 graduates and says she enjoyed the program.

Usually, when you apply for scholarships, there's no interaction with the people who fund them, Ana said, but in WELI the women funders "took time out of their days" to spend time with the scholars.

"They have different sections on how to keep your finances, how to manage your money, how to take care of yourself, how to be successful," Ana said.

An estimated total of $75,000 from over 20 local business and individuals has been raised to support the WELI sponsorship program.