SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Ava Slocum
My name is Ava Slocum and I am honored to be receiving one of this year’s Betty Hansen Scholarships. This fall, I’m excited to move to New York and start my first year at Columbia University, where I’ll be majoring in English. I graduated from high school here in Southern California last spring, but ended up taking a gap year in between high school and college due to COVID-19. Over the last few months, I’ve been interning for a college counseling company and tutoring current high schoolers while also using some of the time to get back into creative writing. I’ve appreciated having the chance to spend some more time with my family before leaving for college after such an unusual year. I have been involved with school and community theater throughout high school and I’m hoping to continue to act in college. I’m also planning to work on some community service projects while I’m there. I would love to study abroad for my junior year of college, possibly in England to study literature there. For the last two years of high school, I have enjoyed being a part of Princess Marie Lodge #68 in Los Angeles, along with my mom Elizabeth Ferry Slocum and aunt Alexandra Berrie. Learning about my family’s background and our Danish history has been a huge blessing. I’m so thankful to the Danish Sisterhood for supporting me as I’ve worked
to achieve my academic goals, and I truly appreciate the gift of this scholarship.
Marilene Martin
Marilene Martin is my name, passed down 2 generations; originating from my Danish great grandmothers - Marie and Lene. I’m the 1st generation in my family to be born American, but grew up hearing and speaking Danish at home. I’ve been lucky enough to spend time in Dk, where I learned and observed how greatly Denmark’s people care for one another. Care, a basic requirement for human nature and development, yet a rare thing between human beings. This stuck with me to this day, in the following way: I’m dedicated to health and wellbeing; two things that cannot exist without care. The best way to act as a representative for these principles are through preventative self-care and daily measure. I’m currently studying radiation sciences, which will translate to medical imaging in the treatment and diagnosis of patients. This is how this Dane says she cares. Through the dedication of my life to care, I see to the betterment of tomorrow; through the improvement of lives every day, care isn’t limited to those directly giving or receiving. It’s passed through a web of people, and in turn it’s passed onto myself. I am class of 2023. In closing, I’m a single mother to 3 children, ages 7, 6, and 3. I’m involved in boy scouts; leading badge earning activities. Proud member of DSS and of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. In my free time, I enjoy the small moments of silence and rest, playing music, and the arts.
Jacob Rasmussen
My name is Jacob Thorlund Rasmussen and I would like to thank The Danish Sisterhood of America for the Betty Hansen National Scholarship. I am sincerely grateful for this scholarship since this is the second time that I have been awarded financial support from the Sisterhood to attend a Big 10 University following my dream career in Animal Science. My Danish heritage comes from both sides of my family. My parents and grandparents have been involved in Danish Sisterhood and Danish Brotherhood throughout the years and our community hosts a huge Danish Festival every August. We just celebrated my grandfather’s 91st birthday – he was born one year after my great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from the island of Bornholm in Denmark. He has introduced me to many family traditions where we continue to celebrate our Danish heritage. For the 2021-22 school year, I will be a Junior attending Michigan State University in pursuit of a four-year Animal Science degree. My emphasis will be in large animals. Go Green! After a year of covid and on-line learning, I am looking Danish Sisterhood News, August 2021
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