The Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Chapter DZ of Fountain Hills awarded scholarships to six women at its annual scholarship luncheon at FireRock Country Club Monday, May 13.

The awardees include Laura Lorenz, a local Fountain Hills candidate for the SCHOLAR Award who received a $1,500 gift from Chapter DZ for her PhD program; Mischa Markovic, a senior from Desert Mountain High School who was awarded $1,500; Kathryn Niecharz, a senior from Desert Mountain High School who was awarded $1,500; Victoria Soak, a senior from Arizona Connections/EVIT who was awarded $1,500; and Katelyn Smout, a senior from Fountain Hills High School who was awarded $1,650.

Smout was also awarded $2,500 from PEO International as Chapter DZ’s candidate the STAR Scholarship. She was one of 907 women from the U.S. and Canada who received the PEO International award.

The PEO mission statement is, “PEO - where women motivate, educate and celebrate women. Educational support is the heart of everything we do. Through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College, our Sisterhood proudly offers unwavering support to women from all walks of life.”

According to peointernational.org, PEO has given approximately $432 million in financial assistance to more than 125,000 women to pursue their educational goals as of April 2024.

The PEO - Chapter DZ from Fountain Hills raises funds to support these scholarships, loans, grants, awards and gifts.

For more information about PEO, visit peointernational.org or contact Chapter DZ President Debbie Murray, at drbm313@gmail.com.