The Wood County Republican Women’s Club awarded four scholarships at its July 2 meeting in Perrysburg, totaling $3,000. After toasting the club’s ninth birthday, WCRWC President Sally Culling presented four high school graduates with scholarships to assist in their future studies. The scholarship recipients are:
- Laura Valette, graduate of Perrysburg High School, who will attend the University of California, Berkeley.
- Kiera Hartland, graduate of Anthony Wayne High School, who will attend Bowling Green State University.
- Aubrey Johnson, graduate of Elmwood High School, who will attend Miami University.
- Addison Naus, graduate of Bowling Green High School, who will attend Wilmington College.
The WCRWC raises funds to award scholarships annually to chosen applicants. Applications open in January and run through April. In 2025, the club inaugurated the Bachman Family Memorial Scholarship in memory of local legal pioneer Evelyn Bachman. Evelyn Bachman, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 84, was one of only two women in a law school graduating class that also included her future husband, Judge James W. Bachman, Bowling Green Municipal Court 1977-1995. In 1967, Evelyn Bachman became the first woman assistant county prosecutor for Wood County, and she continued practicing law into the day of her passing. Her law career spanned 59 years.
Culling said, “Scholarships are linked to better academic outcomes for students, and the Wood County Republican Women’s Club is proud to offer this assistance to deserving applicants annually.
“It was a privilege and honor to award two new scholarships honoring the life and legacy of Evelyn Bachman,” said Culling. “We are grateful to the Bachman Family for establishing their scholarship with the Wood County Republican Women’s Club and we are very proud of Kiera and Addison for being the first recipients of the Bachman Family Memorial Scholarship.”
The Wood County Republican Women’s Club is a grassroots organization that meets throughout the year to “share ideas, information and friendship with one another to increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government.” Men are eligible to join as non-voting associate members. For further information about future meetings, visit www.wcrwc.com or contact wcrwc2025@gmail.com.
