For over 50 years AAUW Naperville Area has funded scholarships to help women pursue higher education. Meet the amazing recipients of past scholarships.

Applications are now open for 2026 scholarships. Thanks to successful fundraisers and generous member support, AAUW Naperville Area is pleased to announce $15,000 in local scholarships to be awarded in 2026.

Recipients will be recognized at the AAUW Naperville Area Awards Event and 70th Anniversary Celebration on May 2, 2026.

2026 Angeline Gale Scholarship

AAUW Naperville Area is offering a $5,000 Angeline Gale Scholarship intended to encourage females or non-binary presenting persons to engage in scholarly pursuits, even when their education may have been interrupted. AAUW Naperville Area established this scholarship in 1971 in memory of Angeline Gale, an educator and the founder of the branch.

To qualify for the 2026 Angeline Gale Scholarship, an applicant must:  a) be a female or non-binary presenting person, at least 26 years of age; b) be enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program at an accredited institution; c) have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5; d) reside in or attend school in DuPage, Will, Kendall, or Kane counties in Illinois; e) demonstrate a need for financial assistance; and f) meet other criteria as stated in the application form.

Application Deadline: March 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM

Questions: aauwnapervillescholarship@gmail.com

2026 AAUW Naperville Area STEM Scholarship

AAUW Naperville Area is pleased to offer a $5,000 scholarship to uplift and support women or non-binary presenting persons who are pursuing higher education in a STEM field of study.

To qualify for the 2026 AAUW Naperville Area STEM Scholarship, an applicant must:  a) be a female or non-binary presenting person; b) be enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field at an accredited institution. Special consideration will be given to applicants majoring in fields relating to Computer/Information Science or Engineering; c) have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; d) reside in or attend school in DuPage, Will, Kendall, or Kane counties in Illinois; e) demonstrate a need for financial assistance; and f) meet other criteria as stated in the application form.

Application Deadline: March 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM

Questions: aauwnapervillescholarship@gmail.com

2026 Future of America High School Scholarships

In honor of our country’s 250th anniversary in 2026, AAUW Naperville Area will award two $2,500 “Future of America” scholarships to women or non-binary persons, accompanied by a complimentary two-year student membership to AAUW Naperville Area.

To qualify for a 2026 AAUW Naperville Area Future of America Scholarship, an applicant must:  a) attend an Illinois District 203 or 204 public high school; b) have a minimum 2.75 GPA after 7 semesters; c) graduate in the 2025-2026 academic year; d) have applied to a community college, or college or university program of study; e) demonstrate a need for financial assistance; f) be female or a non-binary person; and g) meet other criteria as stated in the application form.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM

Questions: aauwnaperscholarship2@gmail.com

AAUW Naperville Area has partnered with local colleges since 2012 to sponsor college women to attend the National Conference of College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL or “nick-whistle”). The conference offers leadership training, inspiration and networking.

Meet Tahbata Zuniga Diaz, the student selected to the 2024 conference.

Since 1888, AAUW has been one of the largest funders of women’s graduate education. AAUW grant programs include American Fellowships, Career Development Grants, Community Action Grants, International Project Grants, Research Publication Grants in Engineering, Medicine and Science, and more. AAUW provided over $6 million in funding to grantees in the 2023-2024 award year.