Empowering women through education is the single most effective tool for gender equality and ending the poverty cycle. Our club focus is on education because educated women and girls are less vulnerable to sex traffickers, more likely to leave a domestic violence situation and not return, able to access healthcare, less likely to live in poverty and able to raise stronger, healthier families.
2026 Scholarship Awardees
In 2026 the club awarded sizeable scholarships to six deserving RVHS graduating seniors.
Soroptimist International of Rio Vista gathered on June 17, 2026 for a jam-packed installation event that blended fellowship, celebration and a renewed commitment to service. Members and guests enjoyed an impressive buffet prepared by Sam’s Catering before turning their attention to an afternoon program recognizing leadership, scholarship and the club’s ongoing mission to support women and girls.
The program opened with heartfelt remarks from 2025–2026 President Evelyn Nodal, who reflected on the club’s accomplishments and the spirit of service that continues to guide its work. Her words set a warm and inspiring tone for the installation, highlighting the importance of friendship, leadership and community impact.
A highlight of the gathering was the presentation of scholarships to deserving high school seniors. The awards underscored the club’s longstanding commitment to helping women pursue education and training opportunities, a central part of Soroptimist’s mission to empower women and girls through access to education and career support. Six scholarships of $2,500 were awarded. Scholarship recipients in attendance provided information about their backgrounds and spoke about their aspirations for the future. Alondra Rivera is attending Sacramento State or St. Mary’s University and hopes to be a Registered Nurse followed by Paralegal certification. Yoseline Lomeli-Lopez aspires to attend Harvard Medical School after receiving her BA specializing in Neuroscience. Shalea Dawnelle Rhett plans to attend Solano Community College and UC Davis and major in Health Sciences as a Dermatology Physician’s Assistant. Not in attendance, Delilah Dockery will attend UC Merced and aspires to become a Civil Rights Attorney. Samiah Holley will attend her dream college, UC Berkeley, and plans to major in architecture. Adrianna Mena-Mejia is attending San Jose State University; her goal is to become a Registered Nurse.
The scholarship presentations were especially meaningful for club members because the RVHS scholarships represent the culmination of their fundraising efforts. The club is so proud of these students for their hard work, leadership qualities, and commitment to make a difference in our community.