A Step Ahead Scholarship: Empowering Women Through Education

The A Step Ahead Scholarship program is dedicated to empowering women by providing financial assistance to pursue higher education. Since 2014, this initiative has aimed to remove financial barriers, enabling women aged 17-35 to achieve their educational goals. This article delves into the eligibility requirements, application process, and overall impact of the A Step Ahead Scholarship.

Scholarship Overview

The A Step Ahead Foundation offers scholarships to women aged 17-35 who are pursuing higher education at accredited institutions worldwide. The scholarship program provides $2,000 to each recipient, and in a given year, 100 scholarships are available. The foundation seeks to support women in various fields of study, including trade/vo-tech programs, two-year degrees, four-year degrees, and graduate studies.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the A Step Ahead Scholarship, applicants must meet several criteria:

Age and Gender: Applicants must be women between the ages of 17 and 35 by the scholarship deadline.
Residency: Candidates must be residents of Memphis/Shelby County for a minimum of two years.
Educational Pursuit: Applicants should be pursuing higher education in any field from an accredited institution anywhere in the world, including trade/vo-tech, 2-year, 4-year, and graduate programs.
Volunteer Training: First-time candidates must have attended a Volunteer Training session within the year, or attend one by the specified deadline. Candidates who have received a scholarship once must have attended a Volunteer Training in the past two years and volunteered with A Step Ahead within the year prior to the deadline.
Accredited Institution: Candidates must have applied to an accredited institution of secondary education at the time of application.
Full-Time Enrollment: Only applicants who are going to be enrolled full time for the upcoming school year are eligible to apply.

Application Process

The A Step Ahead Scholarship application process involves several key steps:

Stay Updated: The Step Ahead Scholarship Registry shares information about the application process with the community.
Attend a Scholarship Talk: A Step Ahead Foundation hosts Scholarship Talks to inform the community about the scholarship program and the application process.
Online Application: The application is typically submitted through an online platform, such as SmarterSelect. Applicants can log into their account to check the status of their application.
Recommendations: Applicants may need to submit letters of recommendation. It's crucial to ensure recommenders submit their letters before the deadline.
Volunteer Training: Attending a Volunteer Training session is a mandatory part of the application process for first-time candidates.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Applicants should be aware of the important dates and deadlines associated with the scholarship:

Application Deadline: The deadline for applications is typically in late February. After this date, the online application system closes, and no further applications are accepted.
Recommendation Deadline: The deadline for recommendations is also in late February. Late recommendations will not be accepted.
Notification Date: The Foundation Scholarship Committee reviews applications in the summer, and all applicants are notified by late July, indicating whether they received a scholarship.

Expectations of Scholarship Recipients

Step Ahead Scholars are not only recipients of financial support but also become ambassadors for A Step Ahead Foundation. Scholarship recipients are expected to share the importance of access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and advocate for reproductive health education in their communities. This ambassadorship underscores the foundation's broader mission of promoting reproductive health awareness.

Scholarship Benefits and Recognition

Recipients of the A Step Ahead Scholarship receive $2,000 to support their educational pursuits. The foundation honors its scholarship recipients annually at the Step Ahead Scholarship Drive-Thru Celebration. Scholars drive past a cheering section of supporters and volunteers to receive their checks, celebrating their dedication to educational and professional growth.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

In addition to the A Step Ahead Scholarship, several other scholarship opportunities are available for students:

"Be Bold" Scholarship: A no-essay scholarship awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile.
Scholarships360 "No Essay" Scholarship: A $10,000 scholarship open to all students who want extra help paying for their education.
Christian Connector Scholarship: Scholarship drawings for Christian/Faith Based colleges and universities.
StudentScholarships.org Scholarship: Open to anyone between the ages of 14-25 who will be attending school.
Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) Foundation Scholarship: ZTA members in good standing who are attending college full-time may be eligible.

External Resources for Scholarship Assistance

Several organizations and platforms can assist students in finding and applying for scholarships:

ScholarshipOwl: Provides direct access to the scholarships students need the most.
Niche: Helps with every step of the college search, including paying for it.
CollegeXpress: An educational publisher and higher education marketing agency.

Special Circumstances and Eligibility

Several specific scenarios address applicant eligibility:

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GPA Improvement: Applicants whose GPA was below 3.0 at their previous school but have since transferred and achieved a GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply.
Part-Time to Full-Time Students: Only applicants who will be enrolled full-time for the academic year are eligible.
Undergraduate to Graduate Students: Students who will be undergraduates in the fall semester and graduate students in the spring semester are eligible to apply.
Senior Undergraduates: Students who are currently undergraduates in their senior year but will be attending school full-time to complete their undergraduate degree are eligible.

Contacting Support

For technical issues with the online scholarship application process, applicants should first contact SmarterSelect customer service. For inquiries about the A Step Ahead Scholarship program, individuals can contact the A Step Ahead Foundation directly.

Alternative Scholarship Programs

Various other scholarship programs cater to different demographics and educational paths:

Private School & Unique Abilities Scholarship: Supports students with unique abilities attending private schools.
PEP Scholarship: A scholarship program aimed at providing students with the opportunity they deserve.

Additional Financial Aid Resources

Students and families can explore additional financial aid resources to support their educational endeavors:

Financial Aid Counselor: Meeting with a financial aid counselor to discuss student loan repayment options.
Savings Account: Opening a savings account to prepare for future expenses.

Scholarships for Specific Situations

Military Families: Active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces with permanent change of station orders to move to Florida are eligible for the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) and the PEP Scholarship before they make their move.

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