Her Scholarship Fund

Founded in 1994 by Annette Stoddard-Freeman and Sally Grootemaat, the Her Scholarship Fund is a scholarship program for women over the age of 35 years seeking to complete degree programs at selected greater Milwaukee area colleges and universities. The Her Scholarship benefits women by giving them needed resources and a boost of confidence in their ability to attain their goal.

Women students over the age of 35 are likely to face the three most significant barriers to entering and completing higher education: low income, full-time employment and responsibility for raising children. In addition, past Her Scholarship recipients have been prompted to return to school because of the urgent need to take care of their families financially due to the disability of a spouse.

Facing constant pressure to provide for the basic needs of families, pay tuition, fees and books, find time to study, attend to demands of work, these students benefit from even small amounts of relief. Often, they are not the highest priority for discretionary financial aid because traditional age students with demonstrable academic success have a higher rate of college completion, and fewer barriers to success. Also, non-traditional students are less likely to meet with advisors and financial aid staff to secure resources.

For women who persist in achieving higher education goals, the benefits are long lasting. Higher education may permanently increase their economic well-being and their capacity to provide for their families. Wages of college-educated women far exceed those lacking degrees. Children of college-educated mothers also fare much better in terms of educational attainment, as well. Helping a woman to support her family potentially lifts an entire family system into a higher economic and social status.

Recipients are selected from applications submitted by participating are colleges. The Women's Fund does not accept applications submitted from students themselves in order to ensure a pool of qualified applicants.

Other Scholarship Programs

Louise Neitge Mather Scholarship Fund was created by Carmen Witt as a tribute to her mother. The fund generates an annual scholarship awarded to a female graduate student in biological sciences at UWM.

Create a new scholarship program. Contact the Women's Fund to discuss details.