Rachel Copeland-Nunn

Rachel is a mother of 3, pursuing her associate’s degree majoring in computer science at St Paul Technical College. Her professional goal is to become a computer programmer, a career that will be personally fulfilling and flexible while providing financial stability and a comfortable life for her family. Rachel’s dream is to find a role that not only secures her family’s future, but also aligns with her passion for solving complex problems and creating innovative solutions in tech.

Surlaina Johnson
Surlaina is a mother of 2, who will be going back to school to study human services at Hennepin Technical College. She has worked in this field for more than 5 years, but now is looking to expand her education so she can take on new roles. Surlaina’s dream is to open a youth center for kids, teens, and young adults to find support and community to overcome adversity in their lives. Building this kind of safe space is important and personal to Surlaina, as she is a child of two recovering drug addicts and had to overcome numerous challenges to get to where she is today.

Latrice Conrad
Latrice is a mother of 2 young children studying psychology at the Individual Contributor Mentoring Program. Since 2022, she has worked for the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office. Now, through this mentoring program, which is run by the county, she is learning skills to help her move into a supervisory position. Each session focuses on molding her into a better mentor and leader. Once she completes this step in her education journey, Latrice’s dream is to go back to school for Industrial-Organizational Psychology, so she can continue to improve her skill set and become a leader in the field.  

Caitlin Gatzke

Caitlin is studying occupational therapy at St. Catherine University. She is returning to school, while parenting a teenager, to complete her degree and become an occupational therapy assistant. Caitlin’s dream is to use her skills to improve the lives of children living with disabilities. She plans to work in local schools, with children receiving special education services, so that she can help maximize their accessibility in school in all areas of life.

Reagan Eiter
Reagan is also a mother of one, attending St. Catherine University, where she is studying Psychology.  Currently, she is an occupational therapist assistant in the school setting. Because she does not have a bachelor’s degree, she is on a different pay scale than teachers and other support staff. Reagan’s dream is to complete her degree so she will be eligible for higher pay, and can build a more financially stable life for her and her family.

Savanna Worley

Savanna is a mother of 3 studying psychology at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She wants to use the knowledge and skills she is developing to help people. Interested in mental health, addiction, systemic barriers, family structures, and childhood adversity, Savanna’s interests are broad. Once she finishes her undergraduate degree, her dream is to pursue a graduate degree in psychology and continue to delve into the nuanced dynamics of human behavior, structural forces in society, and how to help people overcome barriers.

2024 Soroptimist Live Your Dream Winners

Rachel Trice
Rachel is attending the University of Minnesota, majoring in food science. She has two children, ages 15 and 2. She attended Culinary Arts in 2007 where she became pregnant with her first child while experiencing intimate partner violence. After working long hours in a kitchen, with little pay, she pivoted to studying food science, with a goal of making a better life for her family. In Rachel's words - she "want(s) to become a Food Scientist and be able to help my community build generational wealth by helping small businesses of color mass produce their items, and help small businesses work together to support their community with fighting food disparity.”

Beatrice Ogaa

Beatrice has two sons and works as a certified nursing assistant while she is attending Minnesota State Technical College in Wadena to study nursing. Her husband and oldest son still live in Kenya, where Beatrice came from, because they have not been able to get visas to come to the US yet. Beatrice supports them financially while working hard at school and at her job. Both of her sons have sickle cell anemia which has significantly impacted the region in Kenya where she comes from. Ignorance about the disease and lack of treatment options is part of what drives her to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse.

Ebony Hill-Washington

Ebony is attending Minnesota State University in Moorhead to study health services after recently transferring from Century Community College. She has three children, two with disabilities, and she herself has a significant hearing impairment. Despite all these obstacles, Ebony is working to support her family, her children, and to achieve her dream of advancing her career in healthcare. The Soroptimist Live Your Dream scholarship award will help her get there.

Geneva Hawkins

Geneva is attending Century College majoring in business administration. She hopes to open a notary service company and attend law school, after finishing her bachelors degree, to become a business attorney. After experiencing intimate partner violence and leaving an abusive relationship, Geneva is now supporting her child on her own while working and studying. She is thrilled to be a recipient of the Soroptimist Live Your Dream scholarship award.

Samantha Horn

Samantha is attending Winona State University, in the Registered Nurse - Bachelors in Science program. She is working towards her degree while working and raising four children as the head of her household. Samantha plans to finish her clinical doctorate in psychiatric mental health nursing and give back to her community as a trauma therapist. She draws from her own experiences as motivation, sharing - “I have a heavy background filled with childhood neglect and abuse. After my daughters were born I promised myself I would model a positive, resilient, loving and determined woman.”

Zamzam Jama

Zamzam is attending Century College to study nursing. She is simultaneously working to support her child as a single mother. She left her partner 2 years ago when he tried to stop her from pursuing her education. Zamzam says that the Soroptimist Live Your Dream scholarship award “would enable me to go past the financial and personal obstacles that have characterized my journey thus far and provide me the means to pursue my goals of further education and a satisfying profession.

Jewel Stewart

Jewel attends Ellsworth Community College to study equine and animal science. Because she cannot afford to lose her current living situation, with affordable childcare and a roommate, she drives 2 hours to attend her classes. Jewel is a first generation high school graduate (her parents did not graduate) and experienced a tumultuous childhood surrounded by alcohol abuse. She had major back surgery in 5th grade, after which she had to relearn how to walk. These adversities in her life have made her more determined than ever to be the first in her family to graduate college and to create a life and career that she and her children can be proud of. The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award will help her achieve this future and support her 2 children and younger sister.