(WOMEN INTERESTED IN GOING TO SCHOOL)

The WINGS conference (Women Interested in Going to School) originated in a 2001 meeting of Seaside Branch and was adopted by co-sponsors Astoria Branch and Clatsop Community College. Intended to be a one-time event, it proved so popular that this would have been WINGS Number 19. Unfortunately, because of Co-vid restrictions the conference has been cancelled this year. Over the years, WINGS has served over 800 local women, many of whom pursue their education-whether by earning a GED, a community college degree or a bachelor’s degree.  WINGS was one of four winners of AAUW’S NATIONAL Breaking Through Barriers award in 2011.

The purpose of WINGS is to show women how they can overcome barriers to education, to provide them with the contacts and skills to get started, and to inspire them to do so. The one-day conference is cost-free to participants and includes breakfast, lunch and professional on-site child care. Women hear stories from past participants about successful efforts to overcome any difficulty in continuing their education. They attend sessions led by college staff and others on topics such as college admissions, career planning and, accessing federal financial aid as well as scholarships.

Funding is provided by local businesses, foundations and individuals, as well as community members. Our AAUW members and co-sponsors work hard to support the conference with many volunteer opportunities. Although this event is cancelled for this year, we will be back and plan to have WINGS 19 in 2023. Look forward to hearing more. More information will be out on this website as well as the college website as it becomes available.