Scholarships

AAUW Walla Walla Scholarships

The American Association of University Women AAUW Walla Walla Branch offers several scholarships designed to help women in the Walla Walla Valley pursue higher education and career training. Three types of AAUW scholarships support local women in reaching their educational goals while reducing the burden of student debt.

Women RISE (Resilient, Independent, Self-Sufficient through Education) scholarships are for women returning to school after a break in their education, either to complete an undergraduate degree or a post-graduate degree.
STEM Horizon scholarships are awarded to women in their junior or senior year of college who are pursuing a degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math field or a STEM-adjacent field such as nursing.
Women in Trades scholarships are for women seeking professional qualifications in a trade or craft where women are underrepresented.

Applications open January 1 through BMCF

The scholarship program is funded through donations and local fundraising events, including the branch's annual book sale and kitchen tour. Private donations can be made directly to Blue Mountain Community Foundation (BMCF).

Donate today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Go to the Blue Mountain Community Foundation scholarship page and create an applicant account using your personal email address (not your school email) and a password you choose
Once registered, you can access the application starting January 1. Prior to January 1, you will be able to access essay questions included in the application. Once your application is submitted, it will be screened for potential eligibility to other scholarships that are administered by BMCF.
The application process opens January 1 each year. The process closes in early March each year. The date will be posted at: https://www.bluemountainfoundation.org/scholarships/scholarship-information
No, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation will screen applications for eligibility for all scholarships they administer, including all three AAUW scholarships. Once their screening is complete, they will inform you of those for which you are eligible.
Scholarship awards maybe up to $3,000. Extra funding from the Dina Baker Fund may also be given to top applicants who are continuing on to graduate school.
If you are selected, you will receive a phone call from an AAUW Scholarship Committee member by the end of May once the BMCF Board approves selected applicants.
Your funds will be available at the institution you attend before classes start in the fall. In June, following your award, you will receive a letter from Blue Mountain Community Foundation telling you what you need to do before they transfer the funds to your institution.
Scholarship funds can be used for tuition, fees, and course materials at accredited educational institutions.

The eligibility requirements are shown for each of the three AAUW scholarships above. Some requirements are required and others are preferred. The difference is that if two candidates both received the same overall score from the evaluation results, preference is given to preferred criteria.
All application information is held in confidence. All evaluators sign a confidentiality agreement, and the applicants are identified by number, not by name, to the evaluators. Names are only revealed after the selections are made.
Applicants with the greatest financial need are given preference in the evaluation process. If two candidates are equivalent on all other required criteria, we will give preference to the one with the greater financial need based on their SAI score, and responses to the essays.
You need to be a U.S. Citizen, a permanent resident, or be able to demonstrate you are actively pursuing permanent residency.
We will consider these requests on a case-by-case basis. Generally, an applicant will be given preference if they are attending a U.S. institution due to administrative costs of working with overseas institutions are much higher.
During your academic career, STEM and WiT scholarships can be awarded up to 2 times and the RISE scholarship can be awarded up to 3 times per applicant.

"Receiving this AAUW scholarship is both an honor and a meaningful affirmation of my commitment to pursuing my Master of Social Work at Walla Walla University. It eases the financial burden of graduate education and allows me to focus more fully on developing the skills, knowledge, and compassion needed for my degree. I am deeply grateful for this support and motivated to carry forward its impact into my future work as a clinical social worker in the Walla Walla Valley."
"I’m incredibly grateful to have received the $3,000 AAUW Scholarship. This support means so much to me—not just financially, but personally. It’s a reminder that my goals and efforts are seen and valued, especially during a time in my life when I haven’t had the support of parents or close family to rely on. Everything I’ve done so far has been through hard work, determination, and the help of people who believe in me. As I continue my journey toward earning my bachelor’s degree in psychology, this scholarship helps lighten the financial load and allows me to stay focused on my education and passion for helping others especially children and teens impacted by trauma. Thank you for investing in my future and in the work I hope to do for my community."
"I want to start by thanking the donors for this tremendous blessing. Being a single mother and working full-time can be extremely challenging and overwhelming. This scholarship will alleviate a significant amount of stress. With this scholarship, I will be able to cover the cost of books or possibly part of my tuition. I am a first-generation student, and I thank the generous donors for helping me get closer to my goal. I want to be a good example for my daughter, who has spent endless sleepless nights by my side because she can't sleep without me. I want to make her proud of me. Once again, thank you for helping me move closer to my dream of becoming a licensed social worker. Your generosity is a blessing!"
"Thank you so much for your generosity in granting me a scholarship as I continue my studies at the University of Idaho. Heading into my senior year, I find myself reflecting on the opportunities I was lucky enough to take on, many of which would not have been possible without support like yours. I am extremely grateful and hope that I can serve this honor through my studies and as I continue into my career. Thank you!"