The Hayward-Castro Valley Branch established the Patricia Ball Endowed
Scholarship Fund, in July of 2021, with the California State University of the East Bay (CSUEB) History Department with a generous legacy from the estate of Patricia Ball. Patricia Ball, a lifetime member of AAUW, was an alumnus of CSUEB and a history teacher. She was a 3rd generation public school teacher whose family put a high value on education and public service. She taught US History in Castro Valley and then at Pacific High in San Leandro.
The Hayward-Castro Valley Branch gifted $41,500 of her legacy to fund the endowed scholarship. Interest earned will allow CSUEB to offer an annual $1,500 scholarship to deserving students within the history department who meet the following criteria: (1) Is an undergraduate with a major in history, (2) in good academic standing, and (3) with a financial need. In addition, if there are two equally deserving candidates, and one identifies as female, then the candidate may have preference.
Scholarships are awarded at the annual Wanda Washington History Conference held in April. Branch members are invited to attend to honor the scholarship winners. The Hayward-Castro Valley Branch is thrilled to be part of this collaboration. Below are the winner pictures and biographies by year.
AAUW Hayward-Castro Valley Awards
2024 CSUEB History Scholarship
On April 26, 2024, California State University East Bay (CSUEB) awarded their history department scholarships. Our $1,500 Patricia Ball Memorial Endowed Scholarship was awarded to Zainab Ahmadazai. Here is what she has to say about herself.
In 1949, Seker & Warburg Publishing released George Orwell’s final book, 1984. Having taken the public by surprise with its criticism of governmental control and historical manipulation, Orwell’s book became the symbol of a future to come. When I first read the book, I was astonished by the concept of altering history to fit a political agenda, which was the primary theme throughout the story. Orwell used various opportunities to exhibit how the control over narrative provides those who wield it with the power to make anyone believe in anything, and he exemplified this early in the story when he wrote, “Who controls the past, controls the future: Who controls the present controls the past.” It was literature like this that spiked my curiosity in history, and I very quickly tried to understand how specific narratives controlled the way that I thought about the world and the people in it.
As I ventured into my newfound perspective, I was introduced to various subjects, people, and events that had so long been avoided in my education. From the rich intellectual history of North Africa, spanning centuries, to the Mongolian involvement in the Silk Route, I was not only becoming increasingly connected to my own traditions, but I was able to fill in the gaps in my own historical knowledge. Intellectual history and the methods of traditional education stemming from Africa, Persia, and the Middle East have been the subject of my particular interest for the past several years. As I learned more about education in those regions, specifically beginning in the early 6th century, I was introduced to a myriad of occurrences that eventually led to the success of intellectual growth in Europe and the establishment of classical Western education. The Translation Movement, the significance of Persian poetry, and the cultivation of knowledge were all part of a history that, for so long, had been stamped out by Europe’s insistence on its “inevitable rise.” I have learned that it is through the intellectual growth of these regions that Europe even had access to knowledge produced by scholars beyond its borders.
As I continue to learn about this subject, I have had the opportunity to work in a school that is determined to revive the tenets of classical education. However, rather than focusing solely on Western classical methods, as is traditional in the United States, this school has worked hard to incorporate knowledge, literature, and history from Africa, Persia, India, the Middle East, and East Asia. I have helped in the development of the history curriculum, as well as aiding teachers in bridging the gap between the student’s prior knowledge of Western intellectual content with the new, more expansive intellectual history of the world. Along with working at a school, I also work closely with carpenters who are continuing the legacy of traditional architecture found in Spain, Persia, and the Middle East and have the unique opportunity to provide clients with the historical background and significance of various architectural and artistic decisions. When it comes to my writing and research in my own schooling, I have tried my best to broach this topic in my various classes with the subtle goal of evoking curiosity in both my professors and my peers.
After completing my undergraduate education, I plan to continue learning in a grad program that can provide me with more resources and opportunities to continue my research. Initially, I believed that I would love to teach or write in the future; however, I have grown increasingly interested in various creative outlets that still have roots in history. I would love to incorporate both history and film to produce documentaries, with the goal of providing visual insights into historical events. Along with that, I have had such an incredible time creating a history curriculum and collecting resources to support students of all ages in growing their love for history. My biggest concern is that the legacy of the history of education will be lost and that our understanding of how knowledge has influenced and moved through the world will be forgotten. I can only hope that my interest and work, both now and in the future, will help elevate that history in my small corner of the world.
AAUW Hayward-Castro Valley Awards
2023 CSUEB History Scholarship
On April 29, 2023, California State University East Bay (CSUEB) awarded their history department scholarships. Our $1,500 Patricia Ball Memorial Endowed Scholarship was awarded to Samantha (Sam) Balderas. Here is what she has to say about herself:
“I am Sam Balderas, I am 24 years old and from Oakland, California. I transferred from
Merritt College last year and am now a history major in my second semester at Cal State
East Bay, while also working as a student assistant in the University’s Communications
and Marketing department. I am interested in World War II and Mexican history, and I hope to find work in a museum after I graduate next spring.”
Congratulations Sam! The AAUW Hayward-Castro Valley branch is proud to be a part of
your career pathway. Best of luck
AAUW Hayward-Castro Valley Awards
2022 CSUEB History Scholarship
Back row left to right: Pat Macsata, Liz Bathgate, Bridget Ford (Professor Dept. of History), Jen
Ripley (Director of Development), Linda Slater, Unknown Front row left to right: Helene Victor,
Trix Welch (scholarship recipient), Cathy Sandeen (CSUEB President), Judy Harrison