AAUW Parliamentarian Eleanor "Coco" Siewert presents check to University of Michigan-Dearborn program director Lora Lempert, Ph.D. at the 2006 PIE Ceremony

On November 16th, the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund, a program of the AAUW Educational Foundation, awarded the 2006 Progress in Equity Award to the University of Michigan-Dearborn College Level Courses at Scott Correctional Facility for Women. The ceremony was held at the Fairlane Center on the University campus and was attended by many university and AAUW representatives. Senator Michael Switalski (D-MI) gave an introduction and AAUW's Parliamentarian Eleanor “Coco” Siewert, on behalf of LAF, presented the University of Michigan-Dearborn College Level Courses at Scott Correctional Facility for Women with $5,000 that will go towards the program's efforts. Other attendees include:

• Maggie Martin, Ph.D. Provost, University of Michigan-Dearborn
• Warden Clarice Stovall, Scott Correctional Facility
• Diane Engleman, current University of Michigan student and former participant in the program at Scott Correctional Facility
• Lynn Pierce, AAUW Grosse Point LAF branch president
• Julie Gagne, AAUW Dearborn branch
• Jenny Lombard, AAUW Dearborn branch
• Jane Strand, AAUW Detroit branch

The following day, Warden Stovall gave Coco a tour of Scott Correctional Facility. Since the ceremony, there has been local press coverage praising this program. Recognition of program, as well as LAF, has been featured in several publications such as the Dearborn Press and Guide and the Times-Herald. To find out more about this award winning program, click here.

Seeking more information? Contact laf@aauw.org, 202/785-7750, or 800/326-AAUW ext. 145.