The Sandhills/Southern Pines Branch of the American Association of University Women honored Dr. Claudia Marin Restrepo and Byron Kelso with a wedding breakfast on March 15, 2008 in the Fellowship Hall of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Families of the bride and groom and the wedding party were present. Also present were guests from Austria, Canada, Colombia, Zurich, and New York. The wedding followed at 2:00 PM in Pinebluff Methodist Church. A reception was held at the home of Jane McPhaul afterwards.
Dr. Restrepo, a recipient of a prestigious American Association of University Women International Fellowship, studied Public Health at the University of Alabama. Dr Restropo spoke to the group, in both English and Spanish, about her studies and experiences with her International AAUW fellowship and of her appreciation for this award. She is a native of Colombia, South America where she received her medical degree. She continues at the University of Alabama, now studying under a Fulbright Scholarship. Dr. Restrepo plans to return to Colombia to help women gain control over their reproductive lives. Of vital importance to her, is improving the welfare of Colombian children.
The Sandhills/Southern Pines Branch of AAUW is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year; on the national level, the AAUW 125th anniversary was recognized in 1996. Locally, the branch supports four projects: the Ruth Pauley Lecture Series, a tuition scholarship for a Sandhills Community College student, the Sally Ride Awards in the Moore County Middle Schools, and the Christmas Book Tree for needy children at the Country Book Store. In addition, nationally, AAUW awards nearly $4 million in fellowships, grants and awards for outstanding women around the globe. For more about AAUW fellowships and grants see
Anyone holding an associate or higher degree is eligible for membership in AAUW. Consider joining to support our efforts to fund remarkable scholars like Dr. Restrepo or participate in our other work to advance equity for all women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. For more information on joining, see
- Contacts for Sandhills/Southern Pines branch
- Joining AAUW NC or one of the other branches
- Joining AAUW as a member-at-large (national benefits only)
Related story and picture published April 9, 2008, in the Southern Pines Pilot.