PULLMAN, Wash. — Four finalists, all area women, have been selected for the Washington State University 2001 Mom of the Year Award.
Two are from Pullman: Delgadina Alepuyo, nominated by her daughter, Ellsbeth (Val) Alepuyo, a senior; and Linda Chalich, nominated by her daughter, Alison Keck, a sophomore. The other finalists are Ginny Boyle of Albion, nominated by her daughter, Tamara Tremblay, a junior; and Margaret (Meg) Paul of Uniontown, nominated by her daughter, Veronica Paul, a freshman.
The finalists will be honored at the Mom’s Weekend Brunch, planned for April 20 in the Compton Union Building Ballroom. The Mom of the Year will be announced at the brunch.
Alepuyo said her mother is the driving force behind the success of her immediate family. Delgadina Alepuyo resigned from her job to move to Pullman to care for her daughter’s son. She has been heavily involved with the Micronesian community at WSU.
“My mother has often taught members of our (WSU) extended family how to make traditional dishes, given advice about life and love, and acted as a sounding board to anyone who needs someone to talk to,” her daughter said in the nomination.
Keck said her mother raised her as a single parent. She worked full time and has always been supportive of Keck by attending all of her school events.
“She sacrificed everything to ensure that I led a full and rich life,” she said.
Chalich, assistant director, athletic media relations, has been involved with the Alumni Advisory Board for Hilltopics, the alumni publication, and the WSU Alumni Association Centennial Committee. She also has been an adviser for Alpha Gamma Delta.
Tremblay said her mother, associate director, WSU Alumni Relations, helped her when she suffered from meningitis and was diagnosed with a probable brain tumor. Tremblay said she is now healthy, and she owes it to her mom.
“Encouragement is what my mom gives constantly,” she said. “My mom is always generous, positive, happy, laughing, joking, bubbly, understanding, energetic and has a thrill for life.”
Boyle is involved with Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, various WSU committees and the National Lentil Festival.
Meg Paul is a mother of 10 children. Veronica Paul said her mother has been the steadfast cornerstone of her life and of her family’s.
“I admire her and follow her examples of unconditional love, kindness and caring for all,” she said.
The family is helping Meg Paul fight cancer. Veronica Paul said her mother has always been open with her family and taught the family to be open with each other. Meg Paul has been a youth minister for five years, volunteers and opens her house to everyone.
The award is presented annually as a means to acknowledge the impact that mothers make on their children’s lives, to honor their personal achievements and to recognize the diverse contributions that they make to their communities.
The finalists were selected based upon a review of nominations and the recommendation of the Mom of the Year Selection Committee. The selection criteria was based on students’ descriptions of why they nominated their mothers, including such factors as unique characteristics or accomplishments, contributions to family, vivid memories of experiences together and special shared relationships. It also included the mother’s contributions to her local community and to WSU.
Mom’s Weekend is planned and coordinated by the Mom’s Weekend Committee, directed by WSU’s Women’s Resource Center. Committee co-advisers are Annette Williams and Kathy Zeches. Student co-chairs are Chandra Edwards and Shavette McGhee.
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