Beans for Brains Winners 2012

A couple of months ago, Jimmy Beans Wool announced that we were accepting applications for our Beans for Brains Scholarship. This was the third straight year of the Beans for Brains scholarship program, and we couldn’t wait to see the creativity that would flow into our doors. We were absolutely amazed by the almost 1,200 applicants and their projects, stories and essays.

Thank you to all of you who applied this year, and we really wish we had more awards to give out to all the wonderfully creative and remarkable knitters and crocheters out there.

Now, drum roll please as we announce the recipients for this year Beans for Brains scholarship!

Local Reno/Tahoe: Cassie Hansen













University: University of Nevada, Reno

Planned major/course of study: Geography/Atmospheric Science

Tidbits about Cassie: Cassie lived in Norway from 1999 – 2001, where she learned how to knit. Her lifelong dream is to open a research foundation that would focus on continuous environmental research and education on and around Mt. Shasta, California and have enrichment programs and weekend seminars to help women break barriers in the scientific fields.

Midwest: Sarah Johnson

 

University: University of Michigan

Planned major/course of study: Masters of Social Work

Tidbits about Sarah: Sarah’s love of volunteering is what led to her to pursue to degree in Social Work as an undergrad. Her goal is to eventually to become school social worker where she can truly make an impact.

Northeast: Aimee Keithan

 

University: University of York

Planned major/course of study: Masters of Art in Archaeology of Buildings 

Tidbits about Aimee: Aimee has traveled to England to volunteer with the Sockburn Hall Project, a nonprofit that is working on saving a historic manor house in northeast England. The house sits on land that Aimee’s family owned  centuries ago. By working to save this historic house, Aimee found her passion for saving historic structures and sees amazing life in these buildings.

  

South: Cathy Newman

 

University: Louisiana State University

Planned major/course of study: Biological Sciences (PhD)

Tidbits about Cathy: Cathy is a member of the Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets, a group of cyclists who push for respect for bikes, bike-friendly laws and maintenance of safe bicycle routes. She hopes to be both an educator and a research scientist in her field.

West: Jill Eelkema

 

University: University of Denver

Planned major/course of study: Masters of Social Work

Tidbits about Jill: Jill is involved is various organizations in her community, including teaching classes ranging from survival to raising a backyard flock of hens. She dreams about creating an online journal that teaches basic domestic art skills like knitting and crocheting as well as documents the stories and wisdom of some of our older population.

Congratulations to all of our scholarship recipients!

Again, thank you to all of the wonderful ladies and gentleman (as there were a lot of very talented young men too!) who sent in applications. It was a very tough decision this year! If you didn't win this year, don't worry! We plan on continuing the Beans for Brains scholarship next year!

We would also like to thank all of our wonderful sponsors! Please help support them while they support you! Thank you to The Yarn Group, Vogue Knitting Magazine, Tahki Stacy Charles, Classic Elite Yarns, Knitting Pure and Simple, Rowan, Red Heart Yarns, Universal Yarns, Lorna's Laces and Knitter's Pride Needles.

Thank you so much for all the wonderful inspiration you have given us!

Team Jimmy Beans Wool