The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

Discussion

May 25, 2009

Girls Night Out to raise money for scholarships

By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

When Suzanne Cornman’s daughter was paralyzed in a car accident, it seemed like the end of the world.

When she had to resign from her job of 24 years at a local manufacturing plant so she could care for her daughter, it was hard.

And when her marriage broke up two years later, Cornman said, it felt as if everything was falling apart.

But now, Cornman, 52, a student at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, is on target to graduate next year with a degree in health sciences with an emphasis in business and a minor in economics. She hopes to work as a hospital administrator.

She said her life has taken an unexpectedly pleasant turn.

“It was scary to go back to school,” she said. “I didn’t even know if I could do it.”

None of that would have been possible, Cornman said, without the $1,500 scholarship she received every semester from a local nonprofit organization, Girls Night Out, that represents “women empowering women” through get-togethers and education.

“It would make things way more difficult,” Cornman said of not getting the scholarship. “I’m a single mom with a disabled daughter. It becomes tough.”

Cornman is one of two women who received Girls Night Out scholarships last year. The scholarships were funded through the group’s inaugural event last June that coincided with the release of the “Sex and the City” move that was attended by 300 area women.

All the proceeds from the Girls Night Out events go to Missouri Southern scholarships for nontraditional, female students.

Susan Laudwig, president of Girls Night Out, said it’s a group that’s been missed by other organizations.

“These students also usually have full-time jobs and kids,” Laudwig said.

The scholarships can be renewed annually and follow the students through their entire collegiate careers, Laudwig said. The criteria for the scholarships are taking 12 credit hours or more each semester and maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average.

“This is women helping women,” Laudwig said.

Laudwig and her dozen or so fellow Girls Night Out organizers want to add two more women to their list of scholarship recipients this year. To do that, the organization is staging an event June 6 at Downstream Casino Resort, just west of Joplin, featuring a comedy show, gifts and cocktails.

Laudwig said 300 tickets are available, and about half have been sold.

“We’ve had everybody from 25-year-olds to 75-year-olds, from schoolteachers to moms,” Laudwig said. “Women are always looking for something to do with their girlfriends, and this is something unique. This is bigger than us.”





‘Comedy, Cocktails & Charity’



Girls Night Out will have a “Comedy, Cocktails & Charity” event at 6 p.m. June 6 at Downstream Casino Resort, just west of Joplin on Interstate 44. The event will include a red-carpet entrance; professional photo opportunities; a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres; a “women’s only” comedy show featuring local comedian Marian Kelly; and an outdoor after-party with gift bags for every attendee. Tickets are $55 and are limited to 300 women. For information or to buy tickets, people may visit www.thegirlsnightout.org or call (417) 439-9998.

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