Ohlone College is proud to share the inspiring story behind this year’s $13,500 from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fremont Branch. This generous gift supports scholarships for five outstanding Ohlone College students and continues a legacy of empowering local women in higher education, with total AAUW donations to Ohlone now exceeding $122,000 since 1970.
This year’s scholarships were awarded to Merna Morcos, Susanna Chen, Hadia Shahid, Nevaeh Heard, and Ishita Bhardwaj—students who exemplify academic dedication and a passion for community leadership. Even before the awards were announced, Morcos and Chen formed an AAUW Club on campus. Once selected, Shahid, Heard, and Bhardwaj eagerly joined them, making this the first AAUW student chapter in Ohlone College’s history—an initiative born from empowerment and community building.
The AAUW Fremont Branch’s commitment to education dates back over five decades, led by member Roma Miroff, who believed in creating local scholarship opportunities for women. What began as a grassroots effort has evolved into a long-standing partnership with the Ohlone College Foundation, offering sustainable and transformative support to students year after year.
“This year, we found ourselves moved by the stories and potential of three exceptional transfer students. Rather than choose just one, our committee decided to fund them all,” said Randy Fewel, Secretary of the Fremont Area AAUW Foundation for Local Scholarships. “It may have stretched our budget, but we knew it was the right thing to do.”
“Philanthropy changes lives—and at Ohlone College, we see the power of that every day,” said Binh Nguyen, Executive Director of the Ohlone College Foundation. “The AAUW Fremont Branch is a model of generosity and community leadership. Their support goes beyond scholarships; it sparks student-led initiatives and lifelong empowerment.”
In addition to financial support, the AAUW/Ohlone College collaboration includes free national AAUW memberships for all students through a community college partnership program.
