2008 Award Recipients

Xochitl Araica

Xochitl Araica is the mother of 2 teenagers. After divorcing in 1998, she moved with her two small children to Georgia where she had no family support system. She started college soon after arriving in Georgia but she struggled to balance her family, working and maintaining her grades. During her second year she had to drop out of school after becoming ill . She had to be hospitalized for several weeks also requiring several blood transfusions. It took her three years to rebuild her strength. During this time she was also forced to file for bankruptcy. After discharging her bankruptcy in 2002 she began to rebuild her life. Just as she was re-establishing herself both personally and financially she was once again faced with illness requiring surgery. While recovering from surgery she began volunteering for the leasing office in her apartment building to help new families with getting their children enrolled in schools. She traveled with families to elementary, middle and high schools to help them since there were no bilingual staffs in the schools. She was then offered a full time position as an interpreter to assist parents and students. It was her work with these families that gave her the courage and determination to go back to school, earn a degree and be a role model for these students. She enrolled in college in 2005 and has not looked back. She is one term away from completing her college education and is proud of the example she is setting for her children. She wants to work with a nonprofit organization in building leadership, prevention programs and working against gangs and for pregnancy prevention. Because she is Latina, she also wants to set an example for her community. She wants Latina females and males to see that anything is possible with will and determination. Xochitl is seeking a BA in Criminal Justice undergraduate followed by a Masters in Educational Leadership  

Emily Gemmell

Emily Gemmell had practiced as a Certified Professional Midwife for 7 years until she left her career to stay home with her daughter, Eva, who was born with a fatal genetic syndrome (ARC). Emily gave up her practice at a well-known Birth Center and her husband worked the very minimum he could so that they could stay home to care for baby Eva and son Elijah. Emily cared for her 3 year old son and her daughter at home until her daughter died at the age of 7 months. Emily and her husband discovered they are both carriers for ARC syndrome and have a significant chance of having another ARC baby should they conceive again. Emily says that she went through an intense period of grief over the loss of her daughter but also the loss of her identify; She was no longer a practicing midwife and the chance of having more healthy children looked slim at best. But recently she has begun to laugh and dream again. Emily is seeking to continue her education in Nurse-midwifery, Public Health or Medicine. Since Emily's education has been from a nontraditional, non accredited Midwifery College none of her credits were transferable to an accredited institution although she has significant clinical experience. Going back to school has given Emily a renewed energy and purpose. She believes her experience as a midwife and a mother, the survivor of a child's death and as the recipient of horrific and indifferent medical care gives her a unique perspective to bring to healthcare. Emily has served on the Board of Directors of the non-profit National College of Midwifery. She has also provided volunteer hospice care for a 3 year old boy with a terminal illness.   

Kathleen Gerber

Kathleen Gerber stated that she "spent the last 28 years trying to right the biggest wrong that I made - quitting high school and not getting a college education." She worked as a social worker for 13 years helping both adults and adolescent addicts. As a social worker she created substance abuse treatment programs that are still being used in treatment centers today. She had to give up her career when she gave birth to two special needs children. Once her sons were old enough she started a cleaning company (with no financing and no vehicle of her own) that she kept for 10 years. She had to sell her successful business when she was diagnosed with spinal MS and could no longer physically do the work. Instead of giving up she started another business called Rentingdvds.com but was put out of business by the advent of Netflix. After taking several menial labor jobs she once again bounced back by starting a nonprofit program called Crossroads to the Future that aids at risk youth and nonviolent first offenders. She mentors inmates in prison and tutors at risk youth, helping with GED and vocational training. In 1997- Who's Who of Professional Women. In 2004 she was the recipient of the Community Star Award from Channel 3 News. In 2005 Kathleen served on the Chesapeake commission on substance abuse. 2005- Who's Who of American Business Women. Kathleen is currently working on her Associates Degree at Strayer University where she plans to continue on to Law School to ultimately practice Arbitration and Contractual Law. Kathleen believes that once she graduates educational wrong will finally be made right.

Annette Lizzul

Annette Lizzul is a " long time survivor of AIDS and is committed to stopping the spread of HIV and helping other women who are too afraid to publicly show their face, due to stigma and discrimination." Annette was infected with HIV by her fiance in 1985 at the age of 23 . She was told that she had, at best, 5 years to live. While Annette has faced innumerable challenges, she has overcome them through her determination, strength, courage, faith and strong family support. Annette has chosen the field of Political Science, since she believes that changing policy is the only way to help the environment, stop the spread of global warming and change the health care system. Annette is on currently on disability, but hopes that she will one day be able to go back work once she finishes her degree. While the cost of her medication is exorbitant and their toxicity often makes her very sick, Annette knows she must take them or die. This has left her very little funding to reach her educational goals. Annette is very involved in public policy. She has testified in Trenton, NJ and visited Washington, DC to lobby congress for more funding for healthcare and services for people with AIDS. Annette has enrolled in research studies at the Aaron Diamond Center for AIDS research and Rockefeller University to help the scientific community by letting them study her DNA/RNA. She also speaks at no cost to high schools, women's groups, corporations, the National Institute of Health and other community groups to educate people about HIV issues, the need for better health care and services and to dispel the myths and irrational fear associated with HIV/AIDS. Annette is on the Dean's list at University College. Annette has been featured on the cover and in articles in many publications where her untiring activism and her service as a role-model were recognized for raising AIDS awareness.

Talia Scott

Talia Scott is a single mother with four young daughters aged 9, 7, 6 and 8 months. Talia stated “Growing up, I was heavily involved in gangs and frequently getting incarcerated.” This lifestyle caused neglect and instability in the lives of her daughters. Talia decided to change her lifestyle after her uncle, who was also heavily involved in gangs, was murdered in 2006. Due to a lack of income, Talia and two of her daughters have been residents of the Orange County Rescue Mission's House of Hope since March 10, 2007. Since being at the House of Hope Talia has reunited all her children together. have been residents of the Orange County Rescue Mission’s House of Hope since March 10, 2007. After intensive research on the job market, in February Talia enrolled in the year-long surgical technology program at Career Networks Institute. She expects to graduate on February 21, 2009. Talia now recognizes the importance of an education to build a career and better life for her family. She actively volunteers at the West Orange Elementary school and during the summer she works with several different churches to feed the homeless. Today, Talia says “I seek chances I did not once care for, a chance to become a better person, a better mother and a contributing citizen.”

Gretchen Ward

Gretchen Ward is a single mother of eight children and they are survivors of twenty-five years in a religious cult and twenty-four years of domestic violence from an abusive husband. Despite their struggles Gretchen and her family are on the road to healing and don't feel alone or isolated anymore. An extensive recovery process has been necessary to bring the family to a place of safety. Gretchen is working to help her children overcome the hardships of their past by finding good educational environments where they, and she, can thrive. Gretchen is setting an example for her family about the ability to start life anew and to use education to reach your dreams. Gretchen started a home business with Nikken, Inc. as a wellness consultant and received many company honors for her business success. While she was working she continued to dream of "more" and wanting to continue her education. Gretchen returned to college in 2007 and has done well in school. She is looking forward to receiving her nursing degree in 2010. 

Tracie Barber

Tracie Barber currently works for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). After being out of school for twenty-eight years, Tracie has returned to school to pursue an Agri-Business degree. With this program she will be able to take courses in soil science, animal science, water and irrigation management, and other core classes which will allow her a better understanding of the Earth's environment and the challenges we are facing. This understanding will allow her to leverage her knowledge, compassion, empathy, and wisdom to make sound recommendations and have a positive impact on agriculture, water and environmental issues. In addition, this degree will help Tracie to further her career with the USDA. Tracie volunteered her time to serve as co-chair for 2 years for the Miracle Ride, an annual motorcycle ride to raise money for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Tracie also participated with other fundraising events to raise community awareness to address the needs of the children and staff at the Center. Tracie wants to serve as an example to all women that it is never too late to go back to school and realize your dreams.  

PWFI is a 501(c) 3 non-profit foundation that gives scholarships to women and is funded solely through contributions. Although both organizations were founded by Linda Wind, The Possible Woman Foundation International and Wind Enterprises, which conducts the Possible Woman Leadership Conferences, are separate entities with no financial or legal affiliation.