Although female students outnumber their male counterparts in colleges, there are still many factors that impede them on their way to successful careers. For example, young girls are 50% less likely to receive support from their families towards higher education than boys are. This often makes designated women scholarships the only help left available. These grants will, hopefully, reduce the number of young women encumbered with unsurmountable student loans on the brink of their adult life.
Also, some companies seeking to bridge the gender gap in their workforce try to incentivize girls to pursue careers in the fields traditionally dominated by male specialists. To prepare qualified female cadre, a company might establish a scholarship for woman candidates to enable their education in the field and make this career more appealing to them.
Scholarships for Women in STEM
Fields, where women are still underrepresented are math, engineering, science, technology, transportation, and many others, with computer science being particularly known for lack of gender balance. When it comes to attracting more women in STEM, scholarships play a crucial part.
SWE Sophomore-Graduate Scholarships
Amount awarded: $810,000 distributed among 250 beneficiaries
Application timeline: December 1, 2020 – February 14, 2021
Who awards: Society of Women Engineers
Qualifications: Women pursuing a bachelor or graduate ABET-accredited programs in engineering, computing, or technology. Candidates should be full-time students with a minimum 3.0 GPA, US citizens or permanent residents. There are many specific scholarships, but you only need to complete one application to be considered for all the scholarships for which they are eligible.
Who to contact: scholarships@swe.org
Apply here: https://swe.org/scholarships/
Women in Computing Scholarship
Amount awarded: $1,000
Application timeline: June 1, 2020 – April 1, 2021
Who awards: Dotcom-Monitor, Inc.
Qualifications: US citizens or legal permanent residents, undergraduate students at the time of application, females majoring in computer science, computer engineering, or related field. To be considered, submit the application form, an essay, and proof of enrollment.
Who to contact: Julia Garbuz
Apply here: https://www.loadview-testing.com/scholarship/
MPOWER Financing Women in STEM Scholarship
Amount awarded: $5,000
Application deadline: December 31, 2020
Who awards: MPOWER Financing
Qualifications: International female students studying in the US or Canada, majoring in the STEM field, enrolled at one of MPOWER’s partner universities. To be considered, submit an online application form, two essays of up to 1,500 characters responding to prompts from the application form, and a copy of a recent resume.
Who to contact: https://www.mpowerfinancing.com/contact-us/
Apply here: https://www.mpowerfinancing.com/scholarships/women-in-stem/
College Scholarships for Women
For college-bound high school students choosing among many available programs, tuition costs sometimes outweigh all other considerations. Too often young girls decide to put their ambitious plans on hold because they must choose a course they can afford instead of the course they would love to take. College scholarships help gifted and passionate young people follow their intellectual interests and reach their full potential.
Cottey College Girl Scout Leadership Award
Amount awarded: $4,000
Application deadline: December 31, 2020
Who awards: Cottey College
Qualifications: US citizens or eligible non-citizens, planning to attend Cottey College in Missouri, must be female, incoming freshman, a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient. To be considered, submit an application form, an official high school transcript that shows coursework from at least six completed semesters, official ACT/SAT scores, and a non-refundable $20 application fee.
Who to contact: Sherry Pennington
Apply here: https://cottey.edu/admission/apply/
Kerri Castellini Women’s Leadership Scholarship
Amount awarded: $1000
Application deadline: December 31, 2020
Who awards: Price Benowitz LLP
Qualifications: US citizens or permanent residents, female or female-identifying, high school seniors, undergraduate or graduate students, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and strong leadership skills. To be considered, submit your resume listing educational, professional and volunteer experiences, a 500-1000 word essay responding to a prompt “Describe an ideal woman leader in the 21st century; how do you believe that you exemplify this role in your daily life and career aspirations?”, an official transcript, and a recommendation letter.
Who to contact: CJ Finelli
Apply here: https://trustandestateslawyers.com/2020-kerri-castellini-womens-leadership-scholarship/
Thompson Scholarship for Women in Safety
Amount awarded: $1,000
Application deadline: December 1, 2020
Who awards: American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
Qualifications: International and US full-time female students, pursuing a degree in safety engineering, safety management, occupational health nursing, occupational medicine, risk management, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, fire safety, environmental safety, environmental health, or any other closely related fields, with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. To be considered, submit the application form, an official transcript, a recommendation letter, a personal statement, and two essays.
Who to contact: foundation@assp.org
Apply here: https://foundation.assp.org/scholarships-and-grants/
Scholarships for Women Over 40
Many women are prevented from obtaining an education by the family duties that still fall disproportionately on female shoulders. Early marriage, child rearing, caring for sick relatives and other obligations prevent many women from entering the workforce until midlife.
However, with career shifts normalized, life-long learning being a trend, and life expectancy steadily increasing, the number of mature college students keeps growing. That is why specific scholarship for women over 40, 50, or even 60 exist.
SPROWT Scholarship for Women
Amount awarded: $2,500
Application timeline: Spring, 2021 – August 31, 2021
Who awards: Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery
Qualifications: Non-traditional female students (delayed enrollment, full-time work, single parents, having dependents other than a spouse) in California. To be considered, fill out the application form accompanied by a 350-word essay.
Apply here: https://www.granitebaycosmetic.com/sprowt-scholarship-submission/
Jeannette Rankin Foundation Award
Amount awarded: $2,000
Application timeline: December 1, 2020 – February 27, 2021
Who awards: Jeannette Rankin Foundation, Inc.
Qualifications: Women 35 years of age and older, US citizens, pursuing technical or vocational education, an associate’s or a first bachelor’s degree, demonstrating financial need, with realistic educational and career goals and the ability to accomplish those goals. To be considered, submit the application form, personal statement, and two recommendation letters.
Apply here: https://rankinfoundation.org/
Sophie Greenstadt Scholarship
Amount awarded: $1,000
Application timeline: March 2021 – May 2021
Who awards: National Council of Jewish Women - Los Angeles Section (NCJW/LA)
Qualifications: US citizens, female students 35 years of age and older, re-entering or continuing school to learn a skill leading to economic self-sufficiency. Must be residing or attending school in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, or Ventura counties. To be considered, submit the application form, personal statement, official transcript, and enrollment verification.
Who to contact: info@ncjwla.org
Apply here: https://www.ncjwla.org/what-we-do/scholarship/
Graduate School Scholarships for Women
Although young women enter college and graduate on higher rates than men, they still hold fewer senior faculty positions, especially tenured ones. Graduate scholarships for women address this problem by enabling more female students to complete grad school and pursue a career in research.
Laurels Fund Scholarship
Amount awarded: $5,000
Application deadline: May 15, 2021
Who awards: Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (EFWA)
Qualifications: US citizens, female students with completed comprehensive exams prior to the previous fall semester, enrolled in a Ph.D. accounting program. To be considered, submit an application form, official transcript, personal statement, two recommendation letters, and information on your research. Financial needs and academic achievements will be considered as well.
Who to contact: info@efwa.org
Apply here: https://www.efwa.org/scholarships.php
Holly A. Cornell Scholarship
Amount awarded: $10,000
Application deadline: December 21, 2020
Who awards: American Water Works Association
Qualifications: US students currently enrolled in or accepted to an accredited graduate program, planning to pursue a career in the water supply and treatment industry, female and/or minority students. To be considered, submit a personal statement, official transcript, recommendation letter, and an essay.
Who to contact: Linda Moody
Apply here: https://www.awwa.org/Membership-Volunteering/Students-Young-Professionals/AWWA-Scholarships
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund
Amount awarded: $20,000 total fund (up to $12,500 awarded individually)
Application deadline: December 15, 2020
Who awards: P.E.O. Sisterhood
Qualifications: International female student, citizen or permanent resident of a country other than the United States or Canada, attending full-time graduate school in the US or Canada, having a full year of coursework remaining and be enrolled and on campus for the entire school year at the time of application. To be considered, submit an application form, eligibility form, admissions, and income verification.
Apply here: https://www.peointernational.org/ips-eligibility-requirements
Other Field-Specific Scholarship for Women
Despite the STEM field stealing the limelight in the discussions about equality in academia and the workforce, the gender gap exists in other fields as well. Take a look at these field-specific women's scholarships that aim to rectify the situation.
The Jeanne Ohnemus/Cynthia Hurvitz Scholarship
Amount awarded: $2,000
Application deadline: December 15, 2020
Who awards: The Ninety-Nines, Inc.
Qualifications: A woman who has soloed, either resident of or students studying in one of the New England states (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, or Vermont), at least high school age, studying in some area of aviation at an accredited school, college flight school, or with a private instructor. Must have at least a current 3rd class medical and demonstrate a financial need for the scholarship. The academic and professional achievements will be considered along with involvement in aviation activities and dedication to aviation.
Who to contact: ene99sscholarships@gmail.com
Apply here: https://www.ninety-nines.org/scholarship-registry.htm
Houzz Women in Architecture Scholarship
Amount awarded: $2,500
Application deadline: March 31, 2021
Who awards: Houzz Inc.
Qualifications: US citizen or legal permanent resident, ungraduated or graduate woman majoring in architecture or architectural engineering. Award is given based on academic performance, essay responses, and completeness of the Houzz student profile. To be considered, create a Houzz student profile and submit the application form.
Who to contact: Vanessa Brockway, at scholarships@houzz.com
Apply here: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4479808/Houzz-Scholarship-Q1-Women-in-Architecture-2018
WBDI College Scholarship Program
Amount awarded: $400
Application deadline: December 1, 2020
Who awards: Women Band Directors International
Qualifications: Female international or US student, pursuing a degree in music education with the intention of becoming a band director, high school graduate or currently enrolled student. To be considered, submit the application form, an official transcript, a personal statement, two recommendation letters, and a photo.
Who to contact: Shannon Shaker, at smshaker@frostburg.edu
Apply here: https://womenbanddirectors.org/scholarships
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