Soroptimist International of Raleigh (SIR) members, supporters and friends gathered on Saturday, March 22 for an awards luncheon to celebrate the 2025 recipients of the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education & Training Awards for Women®.
This year, a total of 10 women each received an award. Six women received a cash grant of $2,000, and four women received grants of $1,000.
The Live Your Dream awards program is unique in that recipients may use the cash grant to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education—such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation.
The 2025 recipients and their schools
Alexis – Fayetteville State University
Alisha D. – Western Governors University
Brenda L. – Wake Tech Community CollegeDana W. – Wake Tech Community College
Makeeko M. – Wake Tech Community College
Marktika D. – Piedmont Community College
Orrie B. – Wake Tech Community College
Patrina H. – Wake Tech Community College
Tanea E. – Wilson Community College
Yvette H. – Duke University
Please read more about them in the Real Stories profiles.
Pictures from the event
To be eligible for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education & Training Awards, the applicants must serve as the financial head of household and be enrolled in an educational or training program intended to further their career aspirations. Our awardees this year reflect a variety of interests and goals, from a career in dentistry to social work to hospitality. Their backgrounds and dreams may be diverse, but they all have in common a desire to inspire and help others, and to make a better future for themselves and their families.
Since 1989, Soroptimist Raleigh has granted over $139,000 to women in our local communities. We couldn’t have done this without the support of our Dream Program donors.
We would like to acknowledge our 2025 donors for their generosity and commitment to improving women’s lives.
CHAMPION
$5,000—$7,499
OsteoStrong
ADVOCATE
$2,500—$4,999
Jeralyn Friedli
Ron & Nancy McFarlane
BENEFACTOR
$1,000—$2,499
Carolyn Leith
Terri & Mike Craig
Gift from Charter Members
PARTNER
$500—$999
Pat Lynch
Betty Dillard
Carolyn & John Skowron
Marianne & Brian Breneman
We look forward to being able to continue to support women who are furthering their education in the future. Please consider making a gift today to make this happen.