Woman’s Exchange expands scholarship program

Diane Vespucci reported to Historic City News that, from now through April 1st, the Woman’s Exchange of St. Augustine, Inc., will be accepting scholarship applications from women interested in attending St. Johns River State College and First Coast Technical College.

Women helping women is one of the missions of the Woman’s Exchange; and, since 2001, the organization has helped women advance their career opportunities through scholarship awards at St. Johns River State College.

“Last year, eleven $1,000 scholarships were awarded,” Vespucci wrote in her announcement.  “This year, a new scholarship has been added for a First Coast Technical College student.”

The Woman’s Exchange Scholarship Committee works with the St. Johns River State College Foundation and the First Coast Technical College Education Foundation.

Each college processes their applications based on specific criteria for each award that is available from the respective foundation’s office.

The Woman’s Exchange Scholarship Committee selects the prospective recipients from those eligible and presents them to the Woman’s Exchange Board for approval.

The awards are presented at the annual meeting of the Woman’s Exchange in May.

Scholarships for St. Johns River State College students and their requirements are as follows:

• The Woman’s Exchange Scholarship is open to women who are legal residents of St. Johns County, and who are at least 30 years of age. Applicants must take a minimum of 6 credit hours a semester, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and be pursuing an AA, AS, or Bachelor’s degree.
• The Bessey Family Scholarship has the same criteria as the Woman’s Exchange Scholarship, but is solely for business majors.
• The Talmage Noyes Scholarship is open to women 25 years or older, who are legal residents of St Johns, Putnam, Clay, or Flagler counties.  They must attend SJRSC in either St Augustine or Palatka, maintain a 2.0 GPA or better, and lastly, meet the SJRSC financial aid office guidelines for low income.
• The Riggle Family Scholarship is new this year and is open to women students, 25 years or older, who live in St. Johns County, maintain a 2.0 GPA or better, and meet the SJRSC financial aid office guidelines for low income.

The requirements for the new Woman’s Exchange Scholarship at First Coast Technical College are as follows:

• This award is open to women students who are 25 years of age or older and residents of St. Johns County. This scholarship will assist the recipient with registration, course tools, class supplies, textbooks, or competition registration.

For more information on the application criteria:

• St. Johns River State College Foundation at 386-312-4100
• First Coast Tech College Education Foundation at 904-547-3386