Scholarships

Banner with photos of women college graduates, diverse and older.

2023 AAUW Naperville Area Scholarships

For over 50 years AAUW Naperville Area has provided scholarships to help women pursue higher education. Scholarships available in 2023 are listed below.

Deadline extended! All applications must be received by March 31, 2023.

Applicants for these scholarships must reside in or attend school in DuPage, Will, Kendall or Kane Counties in Illinois. The scholarships can be awarded to part-time as well as full-time students who are in traditional or accelerated programs. Candidates may already be receiving financial aid.

The scholarship committee will choose several finalists to interview based upon their applications and personal statements.  Official transcripts will be required of all finalists.  Selections for scholarship awards will be made by April 30, 2023.  Funds for these awards will be available shortly thereafter and will be forwarded directly to the college or university in which the awardees are enrolled. Scholarship recipients also must be able to attend our awards brunch on May 13, 2023.

NOTE: In all cases where we use the terms “woman,” “women” or “girls,” our intent is to include the category “non-binary presenting person.“

Questions: aauwnapervillescholarship@gmail.com

Angeline Gale Scholarship 2023

AAUW Naperville Area is pleased to offer a scholarship of $5,000 to a woman, at least 26 years old, who is seeking an undergraduate degree. 

Application (pdf); Criteria; Checklist

AAUW Naperville Area established the Angeline Gale Scholarship in 1971 in memory of Angeline Gale, an educator and the founder of our branch. This scholarship is intended to encourage females or non-binary presenting persons to engage in scholarly pursuits, even when their education may have been interrupted for various reasons.

To qualify for the 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 3.0; and (d) will graduate by December 31, 2023, if enrolled in an associate’s degree program, or achieve junior status by March 31, 2023, if enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program.

Sue Topp Inspirational Leadership Scholarship 2023

AAUW Naperville Area is pleased to offer a scholarship of $5,000 to a woman undergraduate who exhibits strong leadership qualities.

Application (pdf); Criteria; Checklist

This year, due to the kindness of a generous donor, we also are offering a scholarship for future leaders, the Sue Topp Inspirational Leadership Scholarship. The focus of this scholarship is to recognize females or non-binary presenting persons who have assumed leadership positions within their school and community and have the desire to make meaningful contributions to society, both now and in the future.

A qualifying applicant for this scholarship is a female or non-binary presenting person of any age who:  (a) is enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program at an accredited institution; (b) demonstrates leadership qualities and currently holds or recently has held leadership positions in school or within the community; (c) demonstrates a desire to make a meaningful contribution to society, both now and in the future; (d) will graduate by December 31, 2023, if enrolled in an associate’s degree program, or will achieve junior status by March 31, 2023, if enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program; (e) has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; and (f) has, through their actions, supported the advancement of gender equity for women and girls in school or within the community.

AAUW National Grants and Fellowships

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 is providing $6 million in funding to more than 320 fellows and grantees in the 2022-23 award year.

AAUW National Conference of College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) Sponsorships

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