the late Dr. Jolynne Andal, PhD – a social justice fighter for children’s rights, a mother of two children, and a friend
In 2017, my friend Jolynne Andal Biljetina PhD passed away peacefully at her home after a courageous battle with mesothelioma. The Bayanihan Foundation honors her indefatigable spirit by assisting in awarding a community scholarship award in her honor. On April 2018, her friends and family set up the Jolynne Andal Biljetina Community Leadership Award and Scholarship The scholarship award honors Jolynne’s commitment to children and her community. On July 2018, the scholarship committee selected a scholarship recipient honoring Jolynne’s spirit by making this world a better place and her indefatigable spirit to help.
(left to right); Dale Asis, Bayanihan Foundation; Jocelyn Azada, Scholarship Committee Co-Chair: and Kristy Liu, recipient of the 2017 Jolynne Andal Biljetina Community Scholarship Award (July 2018)
On July 14, 2018, the selection committee awarded the Jolynne Andal Biljetina Community Award Scholarship to Kristy Liu. She was selected from a competitive list of applicants. Kristy embodied the community spirit of Jolynne and her dedication to help others. Kristy Liu recently graduated from Whitney Young High School in Chicago; she will be an incoming freshman and will be studying nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
(left to right): Dale Asis, Bayanihan Foundation; Jocelyn Azada, scholarship committee Co-Chair; Pastor Glenn Aguiree; and Pastor David Kokiong of Hinsdale Fil-Am Seventh Day Adventist Church (July 2018)
The scholarship awards ceremony was held at the Hinsdale Fil-Am Seventh Day Adventist Church where Jolynne was an active member of this vibrant faith community. Jocelyn Azada (pictured above second from left) heads as Co-Chair of the Jolynne Andal Biljetina Awards Committee. Other members of the committee include Ellen Wu; Jen Beach Zielinski; Celina Chatman- Nelsen, PhD; and Bayanihan Foundation board member Maria Ferrera, PhD. The Bayanihan Foundation is honored to play a small and critical role to make this scholarship award come true.
(left to right): Linda Andal, mother of the late Jolynne Andal Biljetina; Kristy Liu, recipient of the scholarship award; and Shirley Pintado looking on (July 2018)
Jolynne’s mother, Linda Andal (pictured right) also attended the ceremonies. Eric Biljetina, Jolynne’s husband and her two children also were at hand during the scholarship award ceremonies. The Jolynne Andal Biljetina Scholarship Award embodies the Bayanihan Foundation spirit of giving and the spirit of helping others.
I miss my friend Jolynne Andal Biljetina. In awarding this scholarship her spirit lives on. The Bayanihan Foundation hopes to continue supporting this scholarship award so it could continue helping young people pursuing their dreams of higher education in psychology, community health, or a related field. It will also continue Jolynne’s spirit of helping others.
To learn more about the scholarship, click HERE.
