Two local women have received grants from Polson’s Philanthropic Education Organization Chapter BY to assist in reaching their educational goals. Both women are within two years of completing degrees at Salish Kootenai College (SKC).

The P.E.O chapter nominated the women for a Program for Continuing Education (PCE) grant. Grant criteria requires that students are able to show how the additional education will improve their marketable skills.

Heather Holmes was awarded $1,800 to be used at SKC where she is working on a bachelor’s degree in education and a teaching certificate. Holmes has worked at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Little Friends pre-school as the director and teacher; a board member and director at the Sandpiper Art Gallery; has been an art docent for the Polson elementary schools, as well as a substitute teacher.

Mary India Trogden was awarded $2,000, which she will spend at SKC where she plans to graduate in June with an Associate of Science degree. Trogden’s degree is in general life science. She is currently working on the hantavirus project in the lab. Trogden hopes to transfer to a similar project at Montana State University, if she is accepted for fall of 2018, where she plans to work toward a bachelors in medical molecular biology.

P.E.O. Chapter BY is one of three chapters in Polson that works to support women with their educational goals. The PCE grant, established in 1973, is a need-based program providing one-time financial assistance to women whose education has been interrupted, and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification to improve employment options. P.E.O. is a 149 year-old philanthropic organization that helps women through scholarships, grants, awards and loans.