How Pat Stephens' legacy supports women's education in Clark County
Fair warning: We promised tissues, and we meant it.
This is the story of Pat Stephens, a Woman of Wonder board member who understood something most people miss—the best way to build a better world is to invest in the people who'll still be building it long after you're gone.
Pat wasn't just a board member who showed up to meetings. She was the kind of person who saw potential in everyone, who believed that communities thrive when women have education and support to become their best selves.
When Pat passed away in October 2025, the Woman of Wonder board faced a choice. They could mourn and move on, or they could ensure her legacy lived forever in the lives of women she'd never meet.
Board President Carol Doane contacted Pat's family and shared an idea.
Pat's niece, Diana, responded: "Thumbs UP!!! I think this fits her perfectly. Thank you so much!"
Together, they created the Pat Stephens Scholarship.
A scholarship that honors community impact
Pat's scholarship supports women who impact their communities in positive ways. It's not about perfect GPAs or impressive resumes.
It's about recognizing the woman who volunteers at the diaper bank. Pat was a founding member of Babies in Need. It's about the woman who edits the school's student paper. Pat worked at The Columbian and wrote and edited many articles for the advertising department. It's about the woman who edits a manuscript for a friend. Pat did the first round of edits on Angela Tucker's book, You Should Be Grateful, and a yet-to-be-published manuscript for our founder, Carol Doane.
It's about the woman who listens and remembers, who brightens her corner of Southwest Washington just by being in it.
The scholarship says: Pat saw you. Pat heard you. We won't forget. Keep going.
Why education transforms communities
Here's what makes this scholarship so powerful: education isn't just about getting a degree and landing a job. It's about developing critical thinking skills that change how you view the world and how you show up in it.
A Woman of Wonder scholarship winner doesn't just learn marketing strategies, nursing protocols, or engineering principles. She learns to listen, consider multiple perspectives, and participate in healthy conversations. She analyzes problems from multiple angles and comes up with solutions nobody's thought of yet.
She brings those skills to every job, every volunteer project, every conversation with neighbors, every decision she makes as a voter and community member.
That's how you build a forward-thinking, vibrant community where everyone thrives. One listener at a time. One critical thinker at a time. One woman at a time.
The power of small donations to women's education
Let's talk numbers. A full Woman of Wonder scholarship is currently valued at $2,200. That doesn't cover textbooks, fees, or full tuition. But it's the difference between "I can do this" and "I have to drop out."
That's an entire future that might not happen otherwise.
The $10 you donate might seem small, but here's the magic—you're not alone. When dozens of people commit to supporting women's education in Southwest Washington, those contributions add up fast. When the community rallies together, impossible goals become hard-won victories.
Pat Stephens believed in the power of women supporting women, in the radical idea that everyone deserves a chance to develop their potential.
She embodied Woman of Wonder's mission before there was a Woman of Wonder.
What a legacy.
Your turn to honor Pat's memory
Here's your mission this week: Give $10 (or whatever feels right) to Woman of Wonder through our Giving Tuesday donation page.
When you donate to women's education today, you're honoring Pat's legacy. You're investing in women who'll make Clark County and Southwest Washington stronger, more vibrant, and kinder. You're proving that small acts of generosity, multiplied across a community, create lasting change.
Pat would be proud of you. So are we.
Next week: The announcement we've been sitting on for weeks. It's going to change everything about how you think about your Giving Tuesday donation.
Pat Stephens at a Woman of Wonder Board Meeting (Actually, it was our holiday social. Pat brought cookies.) #GivingTuesday! Photo by Carol Doane.
“Next week: The announcement we’ve been sitting on for weeks, plus a challenge that’s going to test your generosity muscles. (Don’t worry, you’re ready for this.)
See you next Tuesday, kind human.”
Since 2018, Woman of Wonder has raised over $2,500 through #GivingTuesday campaigns to support women's education in Southwest Washington. Learn more at womanofwonder.org.
