Our Scholarships
At Soroptimist in St. Helena we believe the best way to improve the lives of women and girls is to improve their access to educational and professional training. To this end, we offer a host of unique scholarships and grants targeted at various age groups and opportunities. Using monies raised at our annual crab feed (now in its 41st year), we are able to fund a wide array of annual scholarships and grants.
In addition to the endowed scholarships listed here, the club provides additional funding to Soroptimist International’s Founder Region Fellowship Program, whose mission is to advance the status of women through financial support in the final year of their doctoral degree. Our club also supports young girls at the start of their academic lives by providing annual grant funding, specially earmarked for female students, to St. Helena’s ‘Preschool For All’ program.
- Girl of Merit Award: Outstanding Leadership Qualities in School and Community Affairs
- Violet Richardson Award: Making the Community and World a Better Place
- Marnie Cunningham Memorial Award: Exceptional Dedication to the Betterment of the Community
- Greta Ericson Achievement Award: Leadership and Interest in the Political Field
- Jeanne Bothe Memorial Award: Dedicated to the Environment
Middle School Scholarships
Girl of Merit Award
Outstanding Leadership Qualities in School and Community Affairs
Awarded by Soroptimist St. Helena for more than 40 years. This award is presented to an Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School student during the 8th grade awards assembly at the end of each school year.
The recipient is selected by the RLS teachers in recognition for her outstanding leadership qualities in school and community affairs.
- WHO: 8th student at RLS Middle School.
- WHAT: $100 award. Funded by Soroptimist International, St. Helena.
- WHEN: RLS teachers make their selection by early June.
High School Scholarships
The committee selects each award winner based on grades, need, community service and specific criteria of the award. Unless provided here, applications for high school scholarships are available to graduating seniors through their local high school counseling departments in early spring.
In addition to the endowed scholarships listed below, Soroptimist in St. Helena annually makes available a handful of other merit scholarships to deserving high school seniors. These awards are given away based on available funding. Applications for academic and endowed high school scholarships are available to graduating seniors through their local high school counseling departments in early spring. Interested students are encouraged to download the scholarship application available here. Our scholarship committee will decide which scholarships—endowed or merit—best match deserving applicants.
Please note, application deadline for Violet Richardson Award is November 1, while all other high school scholarship applications are due May 1.
Violet Richardson Award
Making the Community and World a Better Place
The Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award is a leadership program that recognizes young women ages 14-18 engaged in volunteer action within their communities and/or schools. The award is given to young women whose activities make the community and world a better place.
The award is named after Violet Richardson, an Alameda County educator who in 1921 presided over Soroptimist International’s first ever chapter. Richardson believed in personal responsibility and the motto, “It’s what you do that counts.” She lived her life accordingly, as an active member in her community who was committed to creating opportunities for girls and young women. Soroptimist established this award to honor the memory of this unique woman and her dedication to volunteer action.
- WHO: Young women ages 14-18 who have demonstrated initiative in both identifying a problem and trying to solve it.
- WHAT: $250 for recipient and $500 for charity project. Funded by Soroptimist International, St. Helena
- WHEN: Application due on November 15, 2020. Recipient is selected by committee.
Marnie Cunningham Memorial Award
Exceptional Dedication to the Betterment of the Community
This award recognizes a graduating senior with a demonstrable track record of meaningful service to their community, be it at home or afar.
- WHO: All high school seniors can apply.
- WHAT: $1,000-$2,000 Award. Funded by Soroptimist International, St. Helena.
- WHEN: Application due by May 1st. Recipient is selected by the scholarship committee.
Greta Ericson Achievement Award
Leadership and Interest in the Political Field
This award recognizes a high school senior who exhibits leadership traits and interests in the political field.
- WHO: All high school seniors can apply.
- WHAT: $1,000-$2,000 Award. Funded by Soroptimist International, St. Helena.
- WHEN: Application due by May 1st. Recipient is selected by the scholarship committee.
Jeanne Bothe Memorial Award
Dedicated to the Environment
This award recognizes a high school senior who demonstrates academic and/or community oriented environmental awareness and related action.
- WHO: All high school seniors can apply.
- WHAT: $1,500-$2,500 Award. Funded by Soroptimist International, St. Helena.
- WHEN: Application due by May 1st. Recipient is selected by the scholarship committee.