Scholarship for Mom Helps UCSC Mom Keep Ph.D. on Track

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I came across this article by J.M Brown jbrown@santacruzsentinel.com relating to a scholarship for mom at UCSC showing how this mom, Kristen Heady, was able to receive a science scholarship for just for re-entry women students, which allowed her to be able to pay for childcare while she was in school.

She received $1,200 from the Marilyn C. Davis Memorial Scholarship. This afforded her to be able to pay a baby sitter 10 hours per week for three months this summer to watch her baby and during those rare moments away, she was able to travel to the campus and interact with colleagues in her office.

"As a grad student, your monthly stipend is barely enough to live on in this county," said Kristen Heady. "You add child care to that and it's next to impossible."

To qualify, undergraduates have to be at least 25 and graduate students, 29. The women can use the money for everything from tuition fees and conference admission, to child care and other every day expenses that might put college out of reach for some students.

There is also an emergency fund connected to the scholarship for women who are suddenly forced to choose between "staying in school or feeding their kids," Anderson said.

This is another example of being sure to always search for scholarships that you may be able to receive that allow moms to return to school.