Fueling girls’ fire

Carpinterians gathered at the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria campus on Thursday, April 4 for the organization’s Fuel Her Fire night, recognizing those who champion women and girls’ success. The Thursday night event – held previously as the Women of Inspiration luncheon – honored Tim Cohen, Sonia Aguila and Ellie Lou Olvera.

 Cohen has served on the Girls Inc. board for 12 years and has contributed significantly to the Girls Inc. campus; Aguila – who has served for 26 years as an educator – has won several awards for her work, including Carpinteria Unified School District Teacher of the Year, California Bilingual Teacher of the Year, and National Bilingual Teacher of the Year; and Olvera has received praise and honors for her work combating period poverty, having received the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award.

 Several Girls Inc. scholars received scholarships that night. Natalie Martinez took home the $10,000 Powerade scholarship, the $10,000 Lucile Miller Wright scholarship and the Patty and Terry Bliss scholarship; Alejandra Lira Cardona the $10,000 Lucile Miller Wright scholarship and the Fuel Her Fire scholarship; and Lizbeth Alpizar Farfan – the 2023 Junior Carpinterian of the Year –the Smart, Strong, and Bold Senior Award and the $5,000 Lucile Miller Wright scholarship.

 Dulce Perez also received the $5,000 Lucile Miller Wright scholarship; Gia Sharma the $500 Lucile Miller Wright scholarship; and Jessemar Marquez the Camila Griffin scholarship.