Young Women of Tomorrow, Today

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Young Women of Tomorrow, Today

In celebration of the 35 ^th anniversary of the Women of Distinction Luncheon, we caught up with some of our past Young Woman of Tomorrow honorees to see what they were up to. We were delighted, but not surprised, to learn where their life journeys have taken them.

Maria Ramirez

2006 Young Woman of Tomorrow

Raised in Waukesha, Maria now lives in Durham, North Carolina. Maria was a senior at Waukesha West High School when she received the YWOT honor.

WGF: What is your current position?

Ramirez: I am a graduate student at Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, studying Global Policy with a Certificate in International Development.

WGF: Tell us about your undergraduate studies.

Ramirez: I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and International Studies at UW-Madison and a Master of Teaching, Secondary Spanish at American University.

WGF: Tell us about some of your previous positions.

Ramirez: Most recently, I was director of pre-college programs at Carroll University. Before then, I was associate dean of multicultural affairs and global engagement at the university. I was also a Spanish teacher at Cesar Chavez Charter School for Public Policy in Washington, D.C.

WGF: What are some of the highlights of your career to date?

Ramirez: I have had the opportunity to travel the world. I was a Teach for America Corps member, a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Amman, Jordan, and a volunteer in refugee education and refugee resettlement in Wisconsin and Jordan.

I received the Rubenstein for Public Service Fellowship, a scholarship that allows me to attend Duke University. I was also recently selected as a Duke in Geneva Fellow and will spend the summer of 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland, interning at a United Nations agency and taking a one-week intensive course on Humanitarian Action.

WGF: How did the YWOT honor impact your life?

Ramirez: It reminds me that I come from a healthy and supportive community – and that my success is not separate from the adults and institutions that supported and celebrated my growth and learning. My experience as a youth in Waukesha was a springboard for my future work across the U.S. and world.

Maria Ramirez

2006 WOD Program Photo

Elizabeth Jorgensen

2016 Young Woman of Tomorrow

Elizabeth was a senior at Oconomowoc High School when she received the YWOT honor. She still resides in Waukesha County.

WGF: What is your current position?

Jorgensen: I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying rehabilitation psychology and criminal justice.

WGF: Tell us what you have been up to in recent years.

Jorgensen: I am still involved in Mini Vinnies, the organization I founded, which helped me earn the Young Woman of Tomorrow honor. Since I began my studies at UW-Madison, I became involved in the community by volunteering through the School of Education and St. Paul’s Catholic University Center.

WGF: Where do you see your career path taking you?

Jorgensen: Once I graduate from UW-Madison in May 2020, I hope to begin my career helping others. My goal is to work in a psychiatric hospital or at the Veterans Affairs Hospital working with our national heroes who suffer from PTSD. I am currently volunteering at the Madison VA and taking classes focused on how to help these individuals.

WGF: How did the YWOT honor impact your life?

Jorgensen: The award was a huge honor and very humbling experience. It gave me a platform to publicly share the success of Mini Vinnies, which I believe then sparked a fire in others to give back to their communities. The award was one of the proudest moments of my life and I was honored to have accepted it, not only for myself, but on behalf of all the amazing people who helped me get to this point of my life.

Note: Mini Vinnies is a youth version of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a nonprofit that helps those in need in the Oconomowoc community.

Elizabeth Jorgensen

2016 WOD Program Photo

Please join us on

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Ingleside Hotel

2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee

Schedule:

11:30 am to Noon - Purchase Raffle Tickets and Socialize (cash bar)
Noon to 1:30 pm - Luncheon and Program
1:25 pm - Raffle Draw (must be present to win)

Cost:

$75 per person ($50 is tax deductible)
$750 Table of 10

Entree selections include:

Salmon (Gluten-free/No Nuts): Honey Glazed Salmon topped with oven roasted baby tomatoes and a balsamic glaze. Parsley potatoes & Vegetables Provencale to include yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, red and green peppers, red onion with a Parmesan garnish.
Vegetarian Farfalle Pasta (Contains dairy): Farfalle pasta with extra virgin olive oil, garlic & basil topped with vegetables to include squash, zucchini, green beans, red onion, carrots and garnished with steamed broccoli florets. Spinach and Parmesan to accent.
Fresh Fruit Plate

Space is Limited - Register Today

The Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County, established in 2004, seeks to aid and enrich the lives of women and girls so they become thriving residents of their communities. Since 2005, the Women and Girls Fund has awarded nearly $900,000 to nonprofit organizations that promote the welfare, independence and self-sufficiency of women and girls of all ages.

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