Our Mission is
to
GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS!
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 2024-2025 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 3.0 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.
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 3.0 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
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NAU: Physics and Astonomy
Andrea is a local resident of Flagstaff who grew up in Tuba City, which is on the Navajo reservation. She got her GED at Coconino Community College in the fall of 2018. She automatically signed up for college classes for the spring of 2019. She also took classes every summer while at CCC. 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 the fall of 2022, where she was torn between a major in Physics or Astronomy. She adores both majors, however, she seems to ace all her astronomy classes. She was given an internship in the fall of 2024 and was offered another one for the next school year. The journey through college continues to make her happy, and she feels like she is accomplishing so much every step of the way. She is sincerely happy that the University Women of Sedona Scholarship will continue to support her on her journey at Northern Arizona University.
Andrea is a local resident of Flagstaff who grew up in Tuba City, which is on the Navajo reservation. She got her GED at Coconino Community College in the fall of 2018. She automatically signed up for college classes for the spring of 2019. She also took classes every summer while at CCC. 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 the fall of 2022, where she was torn between a major in Physics or Astronomy. She adores both majors, however, she seems to ace all her astronomy classes. She was given an internship in the fall of 2024 and was offered another one for the next school year. The journey through college continues to make her happy, and she feels like she is accomplishing so much every step of the way. She is sincerely happy that the University Women of Sedona Scholarship will continue to support her on her journey at Northern Arizona University.
Stephanie Garcia Hernandez
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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 is currently working as an Early College Coordinator for Mingus Union High School. Navigating her college education as a first-generation student has been extremely difficult and lonely, but rewarding. Her parents’ hard work and resilience has 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 from her family. She is currently working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Human Behavior from Northern Arizona University that will assist her in pursuing a career in social work. She believes that this particular field will help her give back to the communities that have nurtured her.
April Baltran
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April Beltran is a dedicated mother of three who embarked on a transformative journey with her family, dedicating a decade to a meaningful community service project in India. Upon returning to the United States, she felt compelled to further her education and recently gained acceptance into the nursing program at Yavapai College. With a passion for public health, April plans to pursue her bachelor's degree in nursing and carve out a career in promoting community wellness in Cottonwood, embodying a spirit of compassion and service to others.
Caysha Francis
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Caysha is from Cottonwood, Arizona, and has lived there most of her life. She is a wife to her husband, Daniel, and mother to their beautiful one-year-old son, Maverick. Caysha is finishing the last of her prerequisite courses at Yavapai College and will transfer to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where she was accepted in the Spring of 2025. She plans to earn her bachelors degree in their two-year dental hygiene program. In 2007, Caysha suffered from a traumatic brain injury from a car accident that left her with a scar on her head. This reminds her every day how much she has overcome and how beautiful life truly is. Becoming a dental hygienist has always been a desire fpr her to help support her family and to be there for Maverick as he grows.
Denise McClellan
Denise McClellan resides within the Navajo Nation; she is a first generation college student, pursuing her AA degree with a certificate in graphic design. She is founder of Navajo Expressions Arts and Crafts and a fitness professional providing her services to her neighboring communities. She has a passion to motivate and encourage movement to improve overall wellbeing. Showcasing her art and sharing various aspects of her Navajo culture and history, she feels she has a unique role to make a positive impact thru her authentic quality crafts, while bringing awareness to the much-needed connection to our Mother Earth. Her ability to carry on her ancestral teachings is a form of generational healing and exhibits strength and resilience to her 21-year-old son. Her career goal is to use a holistic approach to continue teaching about her cultural teachings by promoting collector quality Native American Arts and crafts. In addition, continue providing caring, dedicated professional fitness services, as a community partner, to communities.
Christy Thompson
Christy is an Arizona native, living in Cottonwood for most of her life. She is a full-time employee
for Yavapai County, as well as a mom to three boys, one girl, two large dogs, and a feline baby.
Christy has just started her journey towards a bachelor’s degree in business management, with
just one year of part time schooling under her belt. She has just purchased a new home, where
she has moved her parents in with her as well. This new adventure in life has her working
towards her future goals more than ever before. She can not wait to see where her future takes
her and is so proud to have her husband and kids by her side as she gets there.
for Yavapai County, as well as a mom to three boys, one girl, two large dogs, and a feline baby.
Christy has just started her journey towards a bachelor’s degree in business management, with
just one year of part time schooling under her belt. She has just purchased a new home, where
she has moved her parents in with her as well. This new adventure in life has her working
towards her future goals more than ever before. She can not wait to see where her future takes
her and is so proud to have her husband and kids by her side as she gets there.
REQUIREMENTS
To apply for a financial scholarship the applicant must:
AMOUNT OF THE AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship amounts for the academic year are as follows:
Full time: 12 hours or more $2,000
Part time: 9 – 11 $1,410
6 – 8 hours $1,025
Upon confirmation of enrollment status, monetary awards are disbursed directly to the recipient’s college on a semester basis ($1,000, $705, $512.50).
APPLICATION PROCESS
The applicants must submit:
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 2025-26 is April 1, 2025.
The University Women of Sedona Scholarship Committee will review all applications and notify each scholarship recipient and her of the award by May 2025.
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: 954-803-6992
To download the application please click on the link below.
To apply for a financial scholarship the applicant must:
- Be a permanent resident of the Verde Valley area.
- Be re-entering or continuing her education at one of the following Northern Arizona colleges:
- Yavapai Community College, Clarkdale and Sedona 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 (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or above).
AMOUNT OF THE AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship amounts for the academic year are as follows:
Full time: 12 hours or more $2,000
Part time: 9 – 11 $1,410
6 – 8 hours $1,025
Upon confirmation of enrollment status, monetary awards are disbursed directly to the recipient’s college on a semester basis ($1,000, $705, $512.50).
APPLICATION PROCESS
The applicants must submit:
- The UWS application form
- An unofficial transcript
- 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 2025-26 is April 1, 2025.
The University Women of Sedona Scholarship Committee will review all applications and notify each scholarship recipient and her of the award by May 2025.
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: 954-803-6992
To download the application please click on the link below.
| usw_scholarship_application_2025-2026__2_.pdf |
