WALKERS RAISE SCHOLAR MONEY.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

Saturday's New England-in-November-like weather did not dampen the spirits of 20 sponsored walkers on a mission: to promote the education of women.

The members of the American Association of University Women trekked three miles in a cold rain to raise $1,000 as part of their ongoing goal of awarding scholarships to promising high school seniors with plans to attend a four-year college or university.

``It's important to encourage girls to go on to (college) and make the most of their abilities so they can contribute their talents to society,'' said Barbara Paharik, the AAUW's scholarship co-chairwoman.

The organization began more than 110 years ago to provide scholarships for women, in an era when the government and universities offered such benefits only to men.

In the 31 years the Simi Valley chapter has existed, scholarships have been awarded to seniors with ambitions in a variety of fields, including medicine, activism, physics, biology and law.

The association hopes to award five $600 scholarships this spring. ``It's a tremendous thrill to be able to help them in any way we can,'' Paharik said.

Candidates are judged largely on their academic achievements, but extracurricular activities, leadership skills, community involvement and their families' income status are also taken into consideration, said Bakula Maniar, another scholarship co-chairwoman.