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Three years ago, ��������'s Facilities Development & Operations employees established the Holli Brawley Memorial Scholarship for Women in the Trades at Bellingham Technical College in honor of Holli Brawley, an amazing friend, caring colleague, and skilled technician. 

The original $1600 for the fund was raised by FDO staff, with the generous support of Joyce Lopes, vice president of Business and Financial Affairs, and her husband Tom, who offered a dollar-for-dollar matching donation of up to $600 to help establish the fund. With ongoing fundraising, including a successful silent auction and fundraising event by Holli’s colleagues last spring, the fund has since grown to $17,000. 

Holli Marie Brawley worked at Western Washington University as a control technician. She was taken from us too soon by an act of domestic violence. She was very proud of being a woman in the trades and supported other women to pursue this non-traditional career path. She made an impact on those around her with her kindness and effortless friendship, touching all who came into contact with her.  

The scholarship has now been awarded three times, most recently to Kristina Courtney who is enrolled in the BAS, Operations Management program at BTC. She wrote, “I want to say thank you so much for awarding me this scholarship. This will help buy books and material that I need to continue my education. I am excited to further my education and to show my daughters that if you work hard, you can do anything! This scholarship will help take some stress off my shoulders support my girls while navigating this time in my life.” 

This spring, as we near the third anniversary of Holli’s tragic passing, FDO staff are once again hosting a silent auction and fundraising effort to bring the fund to endowed status at $25,000, which will allow a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded annually in perpetuity. FDO employees are donating items, experiences, and services to be auctioned off. Donation ideas could include handcrafted items, paintings, excursions or events, and more. The donation does not have to be present at the auction. It can be a commitment for the future, whether that be a physical object or a service/experience. Anyone wishing to donate an auction item can email Mariah Deady (deadym@wwu.edu) by Friday, March 28 at 5 p.m. to make arrangements. 

Direct donations to the scholarship fund can be made: 

• Via credit card, designate the purpose of the gift as an “Established (named) Scholarship” and the Name of the Fund, Event, Program, etc. is the “Holli Brawley Memorial Scholarship for Women in the Trades” 
   
• Via check payable to: Bellingham Technical College Foundation, 3028 Lindbergh Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225; indicate in the memo line that the donation is for the “Holli Brawley Memorial Scholarship for Women in the Trades” 
• Via Payroll Deduction – Combined Fund Drive , indicate Charity Code: “0315610” for the Bellingham Technical College Foundation. In the “Donate to Specific Program” field, enter “Holli Brawley Memorial Scholarship for Women in the Trades." If you have not donated to the Combined Fund Drive before, you will need to set up a Donor Account first.  

In 2014, when Holly was asked at her interview, "Why do you want to be a fire alarm technician at ��������?", her answer was "Because I want to keep people safe." Holli's dedication to caring for others extended to her colleagues, the community, and especially her family. Her Western family honors her life through this scholarship.