Four non-traditional college students will be able to continue their education thanks to a St. Louis woman’s organization dedicated to helping African-American women learn, lead and succeed.
The Professional Organization of Women (P.O.W.) recently gave away $20,000 during the 7th Annual Frankie Muse Freeman Scholarship Breakfast at the Renaissance Hotel in St. Louis. Each recipient was awarded, $5,000 and a laptop computer. This year’s lead scholarships and computers were donated by World Wide Technology of St. Louis.
The award winners, the college they are attending and their field of study are as follows: Kirby Amos, Brown Mackie College, Associate in healthcare management; Shonta Heard, Webster University, Bachelor of Science in legal studies; Penny Harris, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Bachelor of Science in nursing; and Wanda Slaughter, SIUE, Bachelor of Science in social work.
“There were a few times when I felt like giving up, but that little voice inside reminds me how far I’ve come,” said Amos. “This scholarship is about opening doors for women who want the opportunity to better their future, and I’m all for that.”
Nearly 200 people attended the scholarship breakfast in support of helping empower women and in honor of the first woman to serve on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights – Frankie Muse Freeman of St. Louis.
“I’m so proud of P.O.W.’s continual work in the community,” said Ralonda Jasper, a founding P.O.W. member and former P.O.W. board chair. “In particular, I’m proud of how we financially assist women in their educational pursuits, women who delayed entry into college after high school due to personal or financial hardships. This effort truly aligns with our mission of empowering women to learn, lead and succeed.”
In the St. Louis metropolitan area, non-traditional students make up approximately 35 percent of those attending a two-year college and 16 percent of those at a four-year college. Often, these students have not taken a traditional path to higher education because of personal challenges or economic conditions. Non-traditional students tend to pursue college at a much later stage in life.
“Making an impact in the community is one of our values,” said Lisa Muex-Sisson, P.O.W. president. “We take pride in providing opportunities specifically for non-traditional students who need the resources and support to further their education.”
The 91-year-old civil rights attorney spoke to the crowd, encouraging them to do more for those women needing assistance. Freeman also made a donation to her namesake scholarship fund.
“We all know the value of education, and we all know many women over the years who have said they wish they had gone further,” said Freeman.
In 1954, Freeman was the lead attorney for the landmark NAACP case Davis et al. v. the St. Louis Housing Authority, which ended legal racial discrimination in public housing with the city. In 2007, she was inducted in the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, Ga., for her leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Freeman is an excellent role model for women and all people, said Alyce Herndon, event co-chair with Chastity Perry.
With the success of this year’s fundraising efforts, P.O.W. looks forward to its scholarship event next year, said Malaika Horne, P.O.W. board chair.
“The Frankie Muse Freeman Scholarship Breakfast was a rousing success,” said Horne. “I was impressed by the entire program, from the delicious food, to the impassioned remarks of Ms. Freeman urging attendees to contribute to these scholarships, to the recipients themselves who were very deserving and appreciative regarding P.O.W.’s generosity.”
For more information, visit online at www.powincstl.org or call (314) 583-4226.
Scholarship Foundation deadline April 15
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis’ interest-free loan application deadline is Monday, April 15. The Scholarship Foundation offers qualified students the opportunity to apply for renewable, interest-free loans of up to $9,000 per academic year, based on financial need, academic potential, and strength of character. High school students, college students, and nontraditional applicants pursuing their first bachelor’s degree are encouraged to apply at www.sfstl.org.
Applicants must reside in: City of St. Louis or St. Louis County; the Missouri counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, Warren, or Washington; or the Illinois counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Macoupin, Monroe, or St. Clair.
Interest-free loans and grants are awarded to students who have graduated high school or earned a GED and are planning to enroll in approved, accredited postsecondary programs. To be eligible, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal resident and be a permanent resident of the St. Louis metropolitan area for at least two years prior to the date of application.
Students can apply for funding by completing an online “general application” which enables applicants to simultaneously apply for The Scholarship Foundation’s interest-free loan and a variety of external scholarships offered by several providers on the St. Louis Graduates website (www.stlouisgraduates.org).
