Legislators help women pursuing a return to education

The Conference of Women Legislators (COWL), a bipartisan, bicameral, nonprofit organization of women legislators in the Illinois General Assembly, announces the 2021-2022 Annual Scholarship Awards Program. COWL created the scholarship program as part of its mission to promote economic independence, community service and leadership development.

Rep. Fran Hurley, chairwoman of the Scholarship Committee, announces that up to 10 scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded. These college scholarships are aimed at helping women who are 25 years of age or older who are earning their college degrees, in some cases, later in life.

"This scholarship program has been the break that so many of our hard-working families of Illinois need to move forward," Hurley said. "This scholarship is for women who are non-traditional students who have had all of the life experiences and the delays that go with those life experiences to finally get their degree and achieve their potential - not only for themselves, but for their families and our communities."

Scholarship applicants are required to enroll in an Illinois accredited college or university for a minimum of six credit hours to qualify, making the scholarships available to part-time and online students.

"The COWL scholarship has had a really great impact on my education. As a single, widowed mother of young children, it is hard to work full-time while attending school full-time. This scholarship has eased the financial burden for me and I appreciate it so much," said Mercedes Cichocki, a 2020-2021 scholarship awardee.

Applications are accepted at www.cowlil.com until May 1. Awardees will be notified by June 1.

The mission of COWL is: "To work in a bipartisan fashion through legislation and advocacy to advance the interests of all Illinois women through state, local and federal initiatives.