March 11, 2004
Law student remembers past kindnesses with donation
The UW Faculty Auxiliary supports scholarships each year through donations and fundraisers. It’s a typical operation, but every now and then they receive a contribution that they think deserves special mention — like the one from Rebecca Boughton.
Boughton gave $200 to the scholarship fund recently, which wouldn’t be remarkable except that she is currently in her first year of law school and still supporting one of her four children.
Why give away $200 when you are struggling to get through school and support yourself? “Giving to charity is part of my regular budget,” Boughton says. “I want to help other students as I was helped.”
Boughton moved to Port Orchard after a divorce, supporting her kids with a job at the Post Office. But when she injured her back she decided to go back to school and entered Olympic College through the Displaced Homemakers Program.
She subsequently came to the UW and earned a degree in psychology while working part time for the Kitsap County Volunteer Attorney Service. The auxiliary gave her one of its full tuition scholarships.
“Somebody in the Financial Aid Office encouraged me to apply,” Boughton says. “I really couldn’t have afforded the UW without that help.”
She took a year off after graduating from the UW in 2002. Now she’s pursuing her dream at Southern Illinois University.
The Faculty Auxiliary has been giving scholarships since 1959, and has given nearly 100 scholarships since then. Students in their junior or senior year who have demonstrated high academic achievement, financial need and the ability to overcome difficult personal circumstances are chosen for the award.
