The Elmhurst Garden Club recently honored Jean Baldikowski (right) with its Woman of the Year award. Pictured with here is Historian Nan Olson, who presented the award.
Jean Baldikowski, longtime resident of Elmhurst, was presented the 2018 Elmhurst Garden Club (ECG) Woman of the Year Award at the club’s Spring Luncheon held on April 5 at the Butterfield Country Club.
Jean is a well-respected educator, Fulbright Exchange teacher and former teacher of high school English, creative writing, and journalism at York and Naperville High Schools.
The award recognizes an individual within the EGC who has been instrumental in advancing the club’s mission and goals. Baldikowski was recognized for her active role in more than 13 various club committees and events since 2002 and, in particular, for being the driving force behind the successful reorganization and revitalization of the EGC Scholarship program, which fulfills the club’s mission of providing gift scholarships to further horticultural, environmental, and science related education.
In presenting the award EGC Historian Nan Olsen noted that the club’s scholarship program began in the 1980’s with awards of $50 to $100 being offered to high school students for nature-related summer camps.
The program has expanded over the last many years to currently offering a total of $15,000 a year to college and graduate students majoring in Horticulture, Environmental Studies, Biology, Botany and/or other related sciences as well as “Exploratory/Experimental” educational experience scholarships to York High School students. Proceeds from the EGC Garden Walk & Faire fund these scholarship awards. This year’s 23rd Annual Garden Walk & Faire will be held on July 8.
In accepting the EGC Woman of the Year award, Baldikowski, who has chaired the EGC Scholarship Committee since 2011, acknowledged the dedicated support of scholarship committee members in assisting with the successful advancement of the program.
In addition to awarding scholarships to deserving students ECG also hosts an annual “Meet the Scholars” luncheon during which time the scholars present information about themselves and their field of study. According to Baldikowski this special luncheon gives the garden club members a chance to get to know the scholars as well as an opportunity to expand their own knowledge base.
Six student scholars attended the “Meet the Scholars” luncheon held on March 5 at the Wilder Mansion. The EGC meets on the first Monday of the month September through June at the Wilder Mansion. For more information, visit elmhurstgardenclub.org
