AWP Newsletter, December 2017

Reflections on 60 years of AWP
By Claudia B. Sangster

I am always amazed when I realize how quickly time is passing. In 2018 Associated Women for Pepperdine (AWP) will be celebrating its 60th anniversary! It seems like only yesterday that AWP had reached its milestone of 40 years and I was part of that celebration. AWP has such a rich heritage and there are so many reasons to celebrate!

AWP was founded in 1958 by Helen M. Young (wife to then President, M. Norvel Young) on the original Pepperdine campus in South Central Los Angeles. More than 300 women attended the first meeting and 140 women became charter members that day! Early on, funds were raised for specific projects on the Pepperdine campus—e.g., refurbishment of the women's dormitory lobby and the student center. But it was not long before AWP settled in on what would be its central fundraising focus—to provide financial support for Christian students to enable them to obtain an outstanding education, grounded in Christian values, at Pepperdine University. Over the last 6 decades that is just what AWP members have done—raised funds for scholarships and over the years those efforts have provided needed financial aid for students as well as fund an endowment valued at over $4MM which serves as a strong foundation for providing funds for students now and in the future.

Dedicated AWP members (women and our male members—"Fellows") continue to contribute financially as well as give of their time and energy in fundraising events such as the annual Fall Festival, AWP cookbooks sales, estate sales, pies at the Pepperdine Bible Lectures (now called "Harbor") and many other events around the country. The work is hard but the rewards are worth the effort—changing the lives of young people to be prepared academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally for the rigors of life.

There is so much to celebrate! In the 40th Anniversary celebration book the remembrances from the Young family quoted Norvel Young as saying, "The past is prologue" and went on to state,

          "We look to the past to learn, to see our potential, and to be inspired for a greater future. Let's reminisce a little and take a moment to look at our
          beginnings."

Let us do the same—reminisce—and while celebrating the legacy of the past, let's also dream together about the future of AWP and the many great things this group can accomplish in the next 60 years!