Jolene Grau, a student at Northwest College, was recently awarded a Program for Continuing Education (PCE) grant from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was sponsored by P.E.O. Chapter P of Powell. 

The PCE was established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the U.S. and Canada, whose education has been interrupted, to return to school to complete a degree that will improve their marketable skills for employment to support themselves and/or their families.  

Grau is pursuing an ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) degree. A Powell native and mother of three, Grau has been serving our local community as a CNA for a number of years as a stepping stone to reach her ultimate career goal of being a registered nurse. Grau has always loved helping people.

“In the medical field, folks always need a helping hand, even if it’s just holding a hand,” she said.

Grau is confident her many years of hands-on health care work will serve her nursing career well. 

P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) has been helping women reach for the stars for more than 155 years. Since its inception in 1869, the nonprofit organization has helped more than 125,000 women pursue educational goals by disbursing over $430 million in grants, awards, scholarships and loans. Through membership, the P.E.O. Sisterhood has brought together more than half a million women in the U.S. and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education. To learn more about P.E.O., visit peointernational.org. 

Additionally, Grau was recently awarded a P.E.O. Chapter P Scholarship at Northwest College, plus a Ronnie Knopp Nursing Scholarship and a Cottrell Family Scholarship.