New Saint Mary-of-the-Woods scholarship honors saint

A new scholarship at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will honor the school’s foundress, St. Theodora Guérin, and give exemplary female students the opportunity to compete for renewable scholarships valued at more than $140,000.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College was founded in 1840 by then Mother Theodore. An entrepreneurial leader who was dedicated to serving all people, regardless of race, religion or background, she was passionate about educating women and preparing them to become leaders.

To recognize students who embody the principles by which the saint lived and served, the college has created the St. Mother Theodore Guérin Scholarship Competition. The school will award 10 renewable scholarships, ranging in value from $13,000 to $20,000, to students nationwide who have the desire to use their unique experiences, aptitudes and abilities to make a difference in their local communities and beyond.

“For more than 165 years, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has excelled at graduating confident women leaders,” said St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Joan Lescinski, school president. “We created this competition to identify those students who, like St. Mother Theodore Guérin, have the knowledge, skills and determination to make an impact on the world around them.”

To be considered for a scholarship, students must submit a completed application form, a high school transcript, SAT or ACT scores, two reference sheets with letters of recommendation (one from a school official and one from a community member), and a written essay.

Any female student enrolled in grade 12 in a public, private or parochial school is eligible. Female homeschooled students in grade 12 are also encouraged to apply. All application materials must be postmarked by Jan. 26, 2007, to be considered.

Up to 25 finalists will be invited to the campus for a competition on Feb. 9-10, 2007. The scholarship weekend will include a personal interview judged by a panel of college representatives.

“We are looking for young women who have the potential to become future leaders, and we realize that a personal interview provides an opportunity to learn more about a student’s potential than a resume, grade point average and test scores can provide,” said Theresa Denton, chief enrollment services and marketing officer.

(For more information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College at 812-535-5106 or 800-926-SMWC, go to www.smwc.edu or e-mail smwcadms@smwc.edu.)†