Monday, Feb. 08, 2010
Soroptimist award recipient grateful for life blessing
Coryna Magana selected for annual Soroptimist 'opportunity award'
By Samantha Salas / ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com
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ReprintProviding an opportunity for someone in need is almost as fulfilling as accepting the opportunity.
That's why Soroptimist International Los Baños members continue to offer the Women's Opportunity Award to local women who deserve, and need, it most.
Los Baños' Coryna Magana was who Soroptimist guest judges felt was the best candidate for the award.
The award is meant for a woman, who is head of household, enrolled in school and supporting her family, co-chair and Soroptimist Shirley Napolitano said. The award is for a woman trying to earn a better income and improve her skills.
Magana, along with eight other candidates, are attempting to do just that.
"The award is about helping a woman achieve her goals," Napolitano said. "Our judges felt that Coryna stood out as a woman that has demonstrated her ability to set and accomplish goals, a person on her way to a brighter future for her and her kids."
Magana, a single mother of two, said that she was speechless when she found out she was the award recipient.
"It's a blessing for us," Magana said. "I felt proud, but most of all I am grateful."
Magana is set to receive a $1,500 cash award from the organization to use as she sees fit, "for whatever will make her life better," Napolitano said.
As an international organization, each year about 1,000 women receive more than $1 million in cash awards through this program. While the local organization grants $1,500 to Magana, she may advance through regional, national and international levels and receive up to $15,000.
Her application has already been submitted for regional consideration, Pat Selinger, co-chair and Soroptimist, said.
"We had a wonderful applicant turnout this year," Selinger said. "It was a very tough decision because there are so many deserving women."
Magana submitted an essay, along with references, to a Soroptimist-selected committee. She said her motivation to not only better her life, but to apply for the award, has been her two daughters, Valerie, 13, and Victoria Cortez, 6.
"I want a better future for them," Magana said. "I want to inspire them, motivate them."
She said the same can be said for other women in her shoes. Being an inspiration to local women looking to better their future in important to her.
Magana said she thought she had a good chance of being selected because no matter how hard things in her life have been, she's chosen to keep striving, she's been able to keep standing.
"No matter how hard things get, I need to keep standing for them," she said of her daughters.
Magana said she's grateful for the Soroptimist International organization, that they have this award and keep motivating women like herself.
"I have so many people in my life who have been an inspiration to me. I am grateful for their love and support," she said.
Magana has a real estate license and is a notary public. She's currently attending University of Phoenix for her business administration degree and has aspirations of becoming a broker. The hardest transition, but most important, for Magana was deciding to go back to school.
Valerie Cortez said she's happy that her mother received the award.
"She worked really hard and after all she's gone through, she deserves it," Cortez said. "She gives me motivation. It's definitely a blessing."
Victoria Cortez said she was also excited for her mother's achievement.
"This makes her happy and I like seeing my mom happy," Victoria Cortez said.
Napolitano said the organization's favorite part is keeping in touch with local winners who continue to excel and accomplish their dreams.
"Our local club can brag about helping to write many success stories," she said. "One such story is our 2007 winner Oyuky Sandoval who will be graduating Cal State Stanislaus this June with her teaching degree in science."
Napolitano said the competition was judged by three women selected by the organization.
"Each year the committee puts much thought and time into choosing a 'short' list of successful high profile women to be judges," she said. "This year we recognized Ashlee Williams, director of the community resource council; Elizabeth Stone, city councilwoman, and Samantha Salas, reporter for the Los Baños Enterprise, as three such qualified women."
Elizabeth Stone said she felt honored to be a judge for this award.
"We are so lucky in this town to have the Soroptimist International organization provide a scholarship like this specifically designed for women in need, who might not necessarily fit categories for other types of scholarhsips," Stone said.
Through her experience reading the nine candidates' applications, Stone said each was deserving of the award, making it a tough decision.
"I wish they could all receive the scholarship," Stone said. "But I want to give my congratulations to Coryna and to all the women who applied and participated, because they are shining examples to our community and I have confidence that every one will succeed."
Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com