A 'Joyous Journey' with PEO

Members of Chapter AP, PEO gathered with others from around the State of Idaho to celebrate a “Joyous Journey” in Lewiston on May 19- 21 for the Idaho State Convention. Friday night’s Project Dinner featured young women who have recently been granted awards, grants, and scholarships through PEO International and Idaho State. PEO maintains several projects to assist women in their educational journey in order to better their lives and the lives of their families. One such grant is the Program for Continuing Education (PCE) which provides financial assistance to women whose education has been interrupted and who desire to return to school to achieve their goals for themselves and their families.

Chapter AP proudly introduced Alyssa Pinkerton as a featured speaker and recipient of the PCE Grant in 2013. Alyssa kept her audience spellbound as she told her story that took her from a GED to a bachelor’s degree, after many detours along her way. Alyssa has a strong commitment to set an example for her 5 children: having goals and the motivation to achieve them is of primary importance in life, however, education alone is not the ultimate goal. What one does with that education is as important as achieving the sought-after degree. Alyssa believes that giving back to one’s community by serving others who need assistance is what achieving her own goals is all about.

Alyssa is using her education and her passion for helping others as Outreach Assistant at the NIC Bonners Ferry Satellite Campus. She assists people of all ages to plot their course in life, or the next phase of their life, through educational opportunities provided through North Idaho College.

Alyssa believes that PEO helped give her the opportunity to complete her degree and fulfill her personal, family, and professional goals. She became a member of Chapter AP in 2015, and is passionate about women helping women. Our community can be very proud of Alyssa Pinkerton!