AARP to award scholarships for women seeking new skills

Two women from Ohio were among the 74 scholarship recipients this year.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — If you are a woman 40 or older and looking to go back to school to learn a new skill or increase your education, the AARP Foundation may be able to help.

The national organization is accepting applications for its second annual Women’s Scholarship Program, targeting women 40 or older who need financial assistance to seek new job skills, training and education to support themselves and their families.

“Two Ohioans won scholarships the first year they were offered, and we are eager to see this become a trend,” said Jane Taylor, AARP Ohio’s state director.

The foundation gave out 74 scholarships this year to recipients across the United States, including a woman from Dayton who declined to be identified, and Annie McGrady, 62, of Shaker Heights.

McGrady is using her award to pursue a master’s degree in geriatrics at Cleveland State University. She owned a day spa for 20 years and went back to school full time in 2003, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cleveland State.

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be female 40 or older as of Aug. 31; able to demonstrate financial need; and be enrolled in an accredited postsecondary school or training program within six months of the scholarship award date.

Priority consideration is given to women rearing children of another family member (such as grandparents raising grandchildren and siblings raising nieces or nephews); women who have been out of the work force for an extended period; and women in dead-end jobs with no opportunity for advancement, low pay and lacking health or retirement benefits.

Scholarships may be used for any course of study at a public or private secondary school, including community colleges, technical schools and four-year universities.

The program seeks women who are entering two- to three-year technical or skills programs or who are in the final stages of their college experience. Funds are payable to the institution and may be used for tuition, fees and books.

The foundation plans to award up to 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000, depending on financial need and the cost of the education or training program.

Interested women can apply online at http://www.aarpfoundationwlc.org. The application process closes Aug. 22, and scholarships will be awarded in early 2009.

This year’s recipients included grandparents who are rearing their grandchildren, Katrina survivors, military veterans and women from other inspirational backgrounds.

Of the winners, 40 percent are in their 40s, 50 percent are in their 50s and 10 percent are in their 60s.