WWU's Facilities Management Establishes Holli Brawley Memorial Scholarship for Women in the Trades

In honor of Holli Brawley, an amazing friend, caring colleague, and skilled technician, Facilities Management employees have raised over $1,600 to establish a scholarship at Bellingham Technical College for women enrolled in programs related to facility/equipment operation or maintenance, construction, or industrial technology. The first scholarship will be a minimum of $1,000 and will be given out in for the 2022-23 academic year. 

Holli Marie Brawley worked at Western Washington University as a controls technician. She was taken from us too soon by an act of domestic violence. She was very proud of being a women 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. 

In 2014, when Holly was asked at her interview, "Why do you want to be a fire alarm technician at WWU?", 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. 

Now that this scholarship is established, anyone wishing to donate can do so through a variety of ways: 

  • Designate that the purpose of the gift is an “Established (named) Scholarship” and that 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 https://www.wwu.edu/cfd 

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. 

Special thanks goes to Joyce Lopes, vice president of Business and Financial Affairs, and her husband Tom, for their generous dollar-for-dollar matching donation of up to $600 that helped make the establishment of this scholarship a reality.