GENYW EMPOWERED SCHOLAR AWARD PURPOSE AND INFORMATION

GENYW EMPOWERED SCHOLAR AWARD PURPOSE AND INFORMATION

The purpose of this scholarship award is to assist underserved students who, in the absence of scholarship support, are unable to continue their higher education and/or post high school training in institutions of post-secondary education. The YWCA Greater Austin, through initial and continuing support, created the scholarship award to assist with the cost of tuition and books. The scholarship is awarded annually through the Generation YW Program of the YWCA Greater Austin to a high school female student.

YWCA MISSION

YWCA Greater Austin is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

CRITERIA

Applicants must:

• be a female high school student;
• be a high school graduating senior in an Austin, Del Valle, Manor or Pflugerville School District area school;
• have a minimum 2.5 GPA;
• provide a copy of current high school official transcript;
• accepted to an accredited institution, college, university or trade school in the U.S. or Puerto Rico for the 2015–2016 academic year;
• demonstrate a financial need by providing a copy of FAFSA, TASFA or letter of financial need from school counselor if student is undocumented (we define an undocumented student as someone who was born outside of the U.S. but lives here without legal documentation from the U.S. Federal Government – DACA students are eligible);
• demonstrate academic potential and promise, as well as sense of social awareness with two (2) letters of recommendation from a teacher/counselor AND an unrelated adult (e.g. church leader, volunteer coordinator, college guidance coach, etc.);
• provide a 1 to 2-page essay, type-written, one-inch margin, double space, and 12-inch font size on “paying it forward” (see application on page 2);
• complete the GenYW Empowered Scholar application (page 2).
• The award is for $1000 to assist with the cost of tuition and books. Neither the YWCA Greater Austin nor any of the scholarship contributors have claim on the services of the student receiving the scholarship award. If a recipient withdraws from classes, any refund attributable to this award reverts to the YWCA GenYW Empowered Scholar Fund.

Applications are available online at http://ywcaaustin.ywca.org/genyw_award or by request at Monet@YWCAaustin.org.

Completed applications should be returned to:

YWCA Greater Austin

GenYW Empowered Scholar Award

2015 South IH 35, Suite 110

Austin, TX 78741

OR

Scan & Email: Monet@YWCAaustin.org

The YWCA Greater Austin must receive completed applications and supporting documents by Friday, April 3, 2015, midnight. Late applications will not be accepted.