Legislators help women pursuing a return to education
The Conference of Women Legislators, a bipartisan, bicameral, nonprofit organization of women legislators in the Illinois General Assembly, announces the 2021-22 Annual Scholarship Awards Program. It created the scholarship program as part of its mission to promote economic independence, community service and leadership development.
Rep. Fran Hurley, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, announces that up to ten 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 hardworking families of Illinois need to move forward," Hurley said. "This scholarship is for women who are nontraditional 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. Applications are accepted at www.cowlil.com until May 1. Awardees will be notified by June 1.
From past COWL scholarship winners:
"If it wasn't for the COWL scholarship, I probably wouldn't have finished my degree. The scholarship gave me the motivation to continue on with my education. I'm now a senior with an expected graduation date of December 2021. Thank you COWL for believing in me!"- Yessica A., 2020-21 scholarship winner.
"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."- Mercedes Cichocki, 2020-21 scholarship winner.
"This scholarship has allowed me to continue my education and earn my bachelor's degree. As an older adult student, I always felt that going back to college was a dream because it is very expensive. This scholarship helped to make that dream a reality. I'm proud to say I am a straight-A student graduating this May. Because of this scholarship helping to offset the costs of college, I was able to finish and find a better paying job to relieve the burden my husband has of being the sole provider for our family. Thank you so much for the honor of being a recipient of this scholarship."- Paulette Gillam, 2020-21 scholarship winner.
"I attend NEIU's University Without Walls program where I am pursuing my undergrad/ bachelor's degree. As a 2020 COWL scholarship recipient I was able to get one step closer to getting my degree."- Colette Payne, 2020-21 scholarship winner.