This scholarship program is for women over the age of 35 seeking to complete degree programs at Milwaukee area colleges and universities. Scholarships provide women needed resources and boost confidence in their ability to attain their goals.
The program was established within the Women’s Fund more than 15 years ago with the realization that women above the age of 35 benefit greatly from higher education. With higher education, women typically earn higher wages and are able to permanently increase their economic well-being and their capacity to provide for their families. Children of college-educated mothers also fare much better in terms of educational attainment. Helping a woman to support her family potentially lifts an entire family system into a higher economic and social status.
Women students over the age of 35 are likely to face three significant barriers to entering and completing higher education: low income, full-time employment and responsibility for raising children. In recent years the graduation rate for scholarship recipients has been 100%. Says Julie Maloney, 2009 Her Scholarship recipient, “That there are women—complete strangers—willing to support my success, inspires me every day. My studies have awakened my mind and ability, and I’m grateful to the community that helped make this possible for me.”
Scholarship recipients are selected from applications submitted by participating area colleges. The Women’s Fund does not accept applications submitted from students themselves in order to ensure a pool of qualified applicants.
2011/2012 Her Scholars
Kari Andrews | UW-Milwaukee | Education major
Marie Bartolotta | Alverno College | Management Accounting major
Teresa Cameron | Alverno College | Psychology major
Julia Doyle | Alverno College | Community Leadership and Development major
Sakuri Fears | UW-Milwaukee | Community Education major
Irina Korolkow | Alverno College | Nursing major
Elizabeth Kamara | Mount Mary College | Fashion Design major
Pam Mazza-Mueller | Mount Mary College | Interior Design major
Patricia Porter | UW-Milwaukee | Social Work major
Nancy Robinson | UW-Milwaukee | Health Care Administration major
Marsha Thrall | Mount Mary College | Theology and English Professional Writing major
Her Scholarship Steering Committee
Rose Spang, Chair
Sandra Cunningham
Gretchen Fairweather
Jane Hojan-Clark
Gwen Jackson
Missy Levit
Margie Paur
Gwen Plunkett
Carol Robinson
Annette Stoddard-Freeman
Deborah Evans Washington
Pat Wilmeth
Note: The Women’s Fund retains a percentage of all restricted gifts.