AAUW Elgin offers $2,000 in undergraduate scholarships

Posted February 10, 2026 5:32 pm

By Judi Tepe, AAUW Elgin Area Branch

The Elgin Area Branch of American Association of University Women is offering two $1,000 scholarships to be used to meet undergraduate college expenses for the 2026-27 academic year — the Betty Medearis Memorial Scholarship and the Elgin Legacy/Memorial Scholarships. At least one of these scholarships shall be given to a woman of color.

All applications shall be postmarked by April 1, 2026, or emailed to the scholarship committee no later than April 4, 2026. See addresses below.

Applicants must be at least 19 years of age by April 1, 2026, and identify as female

The students should have successfully completed at least 12 semester hours (or equivalent) college credit with a minimum of a cumulative 2.5 grade-point average.

Applicants must live within a 50- mile radius of Elgin, and preference will be given to Elgin-area applicants. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited institution or seeking enrollment for the upcoming semester.

The recipients will be granted a student-affiliate membership in the Elgin Area Branch of AAUW and invited to attend branch meetings and activities. The recipients are invited to attend AAUW’s May dinner meeting where the scholarships will be awarded.

The scholarship money will be mailed to the recipient’s college choice and deposited into her tuition account.

The applications are available online via the Gail Borden Library web page, the AAUW Elgin Area Branch website, elginarea-il.aauw.net, or can be accessed through the financial aid offices at: Elgin Community College; Harper University in Palatine; Judson University in Elgin; Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove; Aurora University in Aurora; Northern Illinois University in DeKalb; McHenry County College in Crystal Lake; Kane County Connects; and Centro de Informacion in Elgin.

Send all necessary transcript(s) to Elgin Branch AAUW, P.O. Box 6721, 202 S.Randall Road, Unit B, Elgin, IL 60123, or electronically to aauw.il.elgin.scholarships@gmail.com. Transcripts must be received no later than April 15, 2026, in order for one’s completed application to be considered by the committee.