March 28, 2005

Inaugural Inspiring Women Scholarship Application deadline approaches

by Tom Woolf

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The deadline for applications for the $10,000 Inspiring Women Scholarship is fast approaching.

The recipient of this inaugural scholarship will receive $5,000 for the 2005-06 academic year. It is renewable, also for $5,000, for a second year based on academic and extra-curricular performance.

The overwhelming success of last year's inaugural Inspiring Women Gala, held at SIUC, led to the creation of the Inspiring Women Scholarship Endowment. Terri R. Harfst, academic scholarship coordinator in SIUC's financial aid office and a member of the Inspiring Women campus planning group, said the organization hopes to award more than one scholarship in the future.

"Everything the organization does is designed to generate funds for the scholarship endowment," Harfst said.

The second Inspiring Women Gala is set for Oct. 8. The program recognizes women from around the region whose accomplishments and conduct are inspirations to others.

The scholarship will go to an entering freshman with an ACT composite score of at least 24, high school rank in the top 25 percent of their class and demonstrated involvement in leadership and extra-curricular activities in high school.

Applications are available at www.siuc.edu/inspiringwomen. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1.