Girardot Chapter IAAP Grants Scholarship

Bethany Searcy, a United States Army veteran of both Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is the 2013 recipient of the Girardot Chapter IAAP scholarship to Metro Business College.

After completing her military service, Searcy and her two children, an 11 year old daughter and a 10 month old son, relocated to Cape Girardeau in January 2012. By March of that year, she had begun a training program at Metro Business College. She will complete the requirements for a certificate as a Medical Office Assistant in August 2013 when she graduates.

Her future plans include enrolling at Southeast Missouri State University to begin working on an accounting degree in the fall. Prior to that, she will also get married.

The Girardot Chapter scholarship is offered annually to a student pursuing a degree in an administrative or office systems program at Metro Business College and will assist in defraying the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other program-related expenses. The scholarship is made possible by the fundraising efforts of chapter members. Since the program was established in 1979, the chapter has presented scholarships in excess of $12,000 to more than 28 individuals.

The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is a registered not-for-profit professional association for office professionals with approximately 22,000 members and affiliates and over 500 chapters worldwide. Their mission is to enhance the success of career-minded administrative professionals by providing opportunities for growth through education, community building and leadership development.

Monthly meetings of the local chapter are conducted on the third Tuesday of the month, August through June. For more information about the local chapter or the international associate, please contact the membership chairperson, Ms. Sherri Jenkins, CAP-OM, at sljenkins@semo.edu, or visit our website, http://www.iaapgirardot.org/girardot/home/.