There are a number of scholarships available for Girl Scouts who are preparing for college, hoping to study abroad, or are looking to fund a project. Here are a few scholarships and awards that Girl Scouts from Central Maryland have benefited from:
The Prudential Spirit of the Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people in middle level and high school grades for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. It is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service.
Local Honorees are selected at participating schools and organizations every November. From these winners, an independent judging organization names the top middle level and high school volunteer in each state and Washington, D.C. Results are announced in early February. Then, 10 National Honorees are chosen by a panel of prominent public figures, and announced at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., in May.
Students chosen as Local Honorees receive a Certificate of Achievement from their schools or organizations. Those who qualify (50 hours of service for age 14 and younger, 100 hours for those older) also receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award. State Honorees receive an award of $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for national recognition events. National Honorees receive an additional award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their schools or organizations, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a non-profit, charitable organization of their choice.
Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation
The Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory of Corinne Schillings, a 26-year-old woman who lost her life in the Baltimore Water Taxi accident on March 6, 2004. Corinne, who was a Silver Award Girl Scout believed strongly in higher education for women and in learning about cultures through language and travel.
The foundation will award academic scholarships to deserving young women who have earned the Girl Scout Gold or Silver Award and who plan to or are currently pursuing a college major or minor in foreign language. This scholarship is renewable.
The foundation will award travel abroad scholarships that Silver or Gold Award Girl Scouts who plan to study abroad, regardless of her major/minor. It is not necessary to be a scholarship recipient to apply for this one-time grant; nor are scholarship recipients excluded from applying. This grant is not renewable.
Philena Chase Strappelli Leadership Development Award
This award provides financial assistance to Girl Scouts ages 13 – 20 to enable them to participate in projects that will promote leadership and increase their knowledge, skills and experience. The awards can be applied to tuition for a course, seminar, conference, transportation costs to an event, or to buy supplies to attend an event that relates to leadership development.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Scout of the Year Scholarship
Annually, the Veterans of Foreign Wars recognizes four individuals: Eagle Scouts, Girl Scout Gold Award recipients, Venture Silver Award recipients and Sea Scout Quartermasters who have risen above their peers in exemplifying the exceptional qualities of that rank with the following:
- $5,000 1st place scholarship
- $3,000 2nd place scholarship
- $1,000 3rd place scholarship
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates outstanding young leaders. Each year the Barron Prize honors 25 inspiring young people who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. These young people reflect great diversity: They are female and male, urban and rural, and from many races and backgrounds. The Prize was founded by author T. A. Barron in 2000 in honor of his mother.
Click here for more or visit girlscouts.org to search for more scholarships by college/university.
For Girl Scouts contemplating a career in nursing, visit RN to BSN Scholarships.
Toyota Financial Services Making Life Easier Scholarship Program
Toyota Financial Services (TFS) has announced its 2019 Making Life Easier (MLE) Scholarship Program that will award up to $1 million to college-bound students associated with select community partners. As a TFS community partner, GSCM is excited to extend this opportunity to our members! Recipients will be selected based on financial need and community service. Students can apply for scholarships of up to $20,000 that will be distributed over four years.
Applicants must:
- be between the ages of 16 and 26 as of the application deadline date and be members, alumni or staff of one of the listed non-profit partners* (volunteers are eligible only if they also meet organization requirements of being members, alumni or staff)
- be high school seniors, graduates, current postsecondary undergraduate, or graduate students
- have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent degree by September 2019
- plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, professional school or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire 2019-20 academic year
- have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
- be in good standing in the community and at school (i.e. not on disciplinary or academic probation)
For more details and to get the application please click here.
