North Allegheny women’s nonprofit offers scholarships

North Allegheny Women’s Association is accepting applications for its 2024-25 academic year scholarship and a new educational assistance fund.

The association is a social and charitable nonprofit organization for women in the North Allegheny communities of McCandless, Franklin Park, Marshall and Bradford Woods.

The academic year scholarship of $1,000 is for a woman living in North Allegheny School District who wishes to continue her post-secondary education or training. The award is based on community service, future goals and overall potential to contribute to the community.

The scholarship award honors Doris “Meemo” Knowlton, a former mentor of a NAWA member, according to Gale Richardson, who chairs the NAWA scholarship committee.

“I knew Mrs. Knowlton for a relatively short time when I was a young adult trying to find my way,” said one NAWA member. “Her generosity allowed me to pay off some of my college loans and had a profound impact on me. She gave me the space to rethink my life goals, and ultimately to a career I’m very passionate about.”

The application and its requirements can be found through the NAWA’s Facebook page or by visiting www.nawomen.org. The deadline is April 1.

Last year’s award winner is North Allegheny High School graduate and Franklin Park resident Julianna Werner, a student at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing marketing and supply chain management majors with a certificate in leadership and ethics, and a minor in legal studies, Richardson said.

The association also announced a new rolling grant this year. The NAWA Educational Assistance Fund aims to help women in financial need who are pursuing education and career advancement.

This fund can be up to $500 and is intended to provide one-time, need-based financial assistance to women who are completing a degree or certification necessary for improving or gaining skills leading to job or career advancement, according to the scholarship’s description.

“We already had the scholarship award, which is a service-based, not income-based, award. We wanted to reach a different group of women who might be having trouble reaching their educational goals because of finances,” Richardson said.

Requirements for the educational assistance fund grant include that the applicant be a resident of northern Allegheny County and outside the city of Pittsburgh, or who is attending a college or vocational school in northern Allegheny County and outside Pittsburgh.

If an applicant’s permanent residence is northern Allegheny County, but she’s living in a university in Pittsburgh during the school year, for example, she would qualify, Richardson said.

Other requirements for this scholarship include the applicant proving a financial need as determined by federal guidelines, remaining in the United States for the entire course of study, and attending an educational program that will lead to educational, career or job advancement.

The EAF applications are due by 5 p.m. the first of each month, and applicants will be notified of the Committee’s decision by the 15th. More information and the application can also be found on NAWA website.

NAWA will celebrate its 10th anniversary this spring.

“Reaching the milestone of 10 years is a testament to the dedication, resilience and vision of NAWA,” Joslyne Counselman, the group’s president, said. “As we celebrate this achievement in May, we plan to reflect on the impact we’ve made, the lives we’ve touched and the strides we’ve taken towards our mission. Here’s to a decade of empowering women, and to many more years of transforming their lives and our communities.”