Since our beginning, the primary purpose of the University Women of Sedona is to develop a fund to provide financial scholarships and support to women in furthering their educational opportunities to an accredited local college or university.
Recipients of UWS 2023-2024 Scholarships There were many applicants for this year’s awards and narrowing down our finalists was difficult. All finalists needed to live in the area and demonstrate a 3.5 or higher GPA. As a small organization, we are immensely proud that we are proving six scholarships for the coming school year. All that fundraising last year has made a big difference in the lives of these talented and inspiring women.
Andrea Blake
NAU: Physics and Astonomy Andrea is a local resident of Flagstaff who grew up in Tuba City which is in the Navajo reservation. She got her GED at Coconino Community College in the fall of 2018, then automatically signed up for college classes for the spring of 2019. She took classes that summer and every summer since. In the spring of 2019, she became a member of the “Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society” and “LSAMP.” She was placed on the “Provost list” for the fall of 2019 and 2020. On August 2020, she was nominated for the “NSLS Honor Society.” She specified her “Arizona General Education Curriculum” to an “Associates in Science”. She transferred to NAU in the fall of 2022, where she is torn between a major in Physics or Astronomy. She adores both majors.
Stephanie Garcia
NAU: Environmental Studies
Stephanie is an Arizona native and a proud daughter of immigrants. She has completed an Associate of Arts degree from Yavapai College and currently is working as an Admission Advisor on the Verde Valley campus. Navigating her college education as a first-generation student has been extremely difficult and lonely for her but rewarding. Her parents’ hard work and resilience have been an enormous influence for her to work hard in school, hoping that in the future, it will help her relieve some of that pressure on her family. Her educational aspirations consist of acquiring a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis on Forestry.
Justine Adell Molitor
NAU: Physical Education Justine attempted college 36 years ago and did not complete her degree but instead got married and had 3 children. After 10 years of marriage to a violent man, she divorced and raised her daughters on her own without family or support. Now it’s her turn to recreate her future, herself, and her career path. She is excited to watch herself succeed and is excited to have the ability to influence our older generation as well as our next generation. She completed her associates degree in May of 2022 at CCC in Flagstaff and will be continuing her education at NAU with a degree in Health and Wellness. While at CCC, she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, was nominated for the National Society of Leadership and Success, and maintained a GPA of 3.79. She is also a part of TRIO, a federally funded outreach and student services program for individuals with varying backgrounds. This program was implemented by the United States Department of Education. Additionally, she’s the recipient of the Betty Steyskal scholarship, the Coconino Employee Scholarship, and the Raymond Foundation Scholarship.
Hannah Pierce
Yavapai: Registered Nurse Degree Hannah is a Verde Valley native who is attending her last semester at Yavapai College to become an RN. She has been a member of SNA since the beginning and was a selected recipient of the Community Healthcare Scholar Scholarship, which is a pledge to work in the community once she is finished. During clinicals, she confirmed her love for the OB unit, but she also has enjoyed ICU and has an interest in PACU. When she finishes, she plans to attend an Arizona University to receive her BSN, and then she will see where this career takes her. While this journey has been exhausting for her, it has also been so rewarding to see what she is capable of as a mother and wife.
Abigail Almanza
Coconino Community College: Nursing Abii is a first-generation college student and a proud daughter of immigrant parents. Not only is Abii moved by her parents' courage to move to another country and start from scratch but takes pride in her Mexican American roots. Her greatest accomplishments are reminders of a dream her parents held, a pursuit they endured, and an extraordinary show of bravery they’ve managed to maintain over the years. Abii just wrapped up her first year in nursing school at Coconino Community College where she is set to graduate in May of 2024 and then transfer to NAU to finish up her master's in nursing. After working in dialysis for 5 years, she has not only found a never-ending passion in nephrology, but a career path that is constantly evolving and keeping her knowledge up to par. Her end goal is to become a Certified Nephrology Nurse, which is a rigorous certification exam offered by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission. It is intended for candidates who are already fully licensed registered nurses with plenty of on-the-job experience. Raised in Cottonwood, AZ, and residing in Flagstaff, AZ, Abii is grateful everyday for the opportunity to continue her dreams without it becoming a financial burden and hopes that someday she will also be able to bestow someone else in the community with the opportunity she was given by this scholarship.
REQUIREMENTS
To apply for a financial scholarship the applicant must:
Be a permanent resident of Northern Arizona;
Be re-entering or continuing her education;
Be registered at one of the following Northern Arizona colleges:
Yavapai Community College, Verde Valley or Clarkdale campuses
Coconino Community College
Northern Arizona University
Be either a full-time or part-time student;
Show financial need;
Have a high grade point average (preferably a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better).
AMOUNT OF THE AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship amounts for the academic year are as follows:
Full time: 12 hours or more $1,450 Part time: 9 – 11 $1,100 6 – 8 hours $ 800
Upon confirmation of enrollment status, monetary awards are disbursed directly to the recipient’s college on a semester basis ($725, $550, $400).
APPLICATION PROCESS
The applicants must submit:
The UWS application form;
A personal statement written on a separate sheet of paper.
Forms should be signed by the appropriate college/university official and submitted to the University Women of Sedona through the institution’s Financial Aid Office.
Financial aid officers at each institution may submit equivalent application forms from their files for candidates however their applications must meet the same requirements as stated above.
The deadline for submission of the Scholarship Application for 2024-25 is April 1, 2024.
The University Women of Sedona Scholarship Committee will review all applications and notify each scholarship recipient and her college at the end of May 2024 of her acceptance.
For questions or additional information, please contact:
Debbie Nellis, Ed.D. Chairwoman, Scholarship Committee University Women of Sedona PO Box 20123 Sedona, AZ 86341 Email: [email protected] Phone: 928-803-6992 To download the application please click on the link below.