Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. provides incredible opportunities for graduating high school senior Girl Scouts to pursue higher education through the Dr. Elinor Crawford Girl Scout Scholarship Fund. Additionally, The Community Foundation and the Selby Scholarship Program offer tuition assistance to high school and college students, providing a range of scholarships to support academic endeavors.

Dr. Elinor Crawford Girl Scout Scholarship Fund:

Since 1989, the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. Board of Directors has been awarding college scholarships to recognize the achievements of graduating high school senior Girl Scouts. The scholarship fund aims to honor young women who excel in skills, leadership, and citizenship. The application period for the Dr. Elinor Crawford Girl Scout Scholarship is open until February 28, 2024, with recipients being honored at the Young Women of Distinction Celebration on May 19, 2024.

For more information and assistance, applicants can contact Marie Graziosi at marieg@gsgcf.org or 941-921-5358 ext. 338 or 800-232-4475.

Community Foundation Tuition Scholarship:

The Community Foundation invites high school seniors of the Class of 2024 to apply for scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000. The scholarships are available to students planning to pursue postsecondary education in the fall of 2024. Over $100,000 was awarded in 2023 to students attending 2-and 4-year colleges and internships nationwide.

Key Dates for the Community Foundation Tuition Scholarship:

• January 1: Scholarship opens.
• March 31 (at 11:45 p.m.): Scholarship deadline.
• May 15: Winners announced.

Applicants can learn more about each scholarship and eligibility criteria on The Community Foundation website. To apply, eligible students must register and create an account in the online scholarship portal. For further information, contact Tiffany McQueen Lewis, Scholarship Administrator, at tiffany@capecoralcf.org or 312-848-5744.

Selby Scholarship Program:

The Selby Scholarship Program provides another avenue for students seeking financial assistance for their education. While specific details about this program are not provided in the given content, interested individuals are encouraged to explore the opportunities it offers.

Graduating high school seniors from a school in Charlottee, DeSoto, Manatee or Sarasota County are eligible. Applicants must have “exceptional financial need” as determined by the 2024-25 FAFSA. Applicants also must have a 3.0 unweighted cumulative GPA, and plan to attend an accredited college or university to complete a 4-year degree.

Applications open on Jan. 1, 2024. Visit www.selbyfdn.org to learn more and apply online.Contact Kierra Womack (941-957-0442, kwomack@selbyfdn.org) with questions.

GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship

​​​​​​​The GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship is earned by a Girl Scout who completed a Gold Award project that demonstrated extraordinary leadership, measurable and sustainable impact, and addressed an issue of national and/or global significance.

RECIPIENT BENEFITS

• A $5,000 academic scholarship
• An official award letter 
• Recognition in local and national Girl Scout promotions, including http://www.girlscouts.org/goldawardclass 

Additionally, all scholarship recipients will be added to a GSUSA database where they may be asked to serve as representatives for Girl Scouts through public relations, web/social, speaking engagements, or other related opportunities.

WHEN:  The application period is March 15 – April 17, 2024.

Gold Award Girl Scouts who are high school seniors or recent high school graduates can apply for the 2024 program. Specifically:

• current high school seniors who earned or will earn anytime before April 1, 2024
• recent high school graduates who earned in their senior year after March 31, 2023

 Notes on eligibility:

• Gold Award Girl Scouts who applied in a previous year are not eligible to re-apply. 
• To be eligible, all Gold Award Girl Scouts must have their final report approved in the GoGold web app within the eligibility date range. 
• Gold Award Girl Scouts who are not yet in 12th grade will have the opportunity to apply in their senior year.

How to apply for the Gold Award Scholarship:

Apply between March 15–April 17, 2024. All applicants will receive status updates in June 2024.

In addition to providing demographic information, a headshot with photo release, and confirmation of Gold Award status, each applicant will answer four essay questions in 500 words or fewer per question about their Gold Award:

1. Please summarize your project in a narrative describing the root cause, how your project addresses it, the resources you leveraged, and how you achieved your goal. Be sure to indicate how you displayed leadership, detailing 1) how you led a team to accomplish your goals and 2) how you involved appropriate community members in your solution. 
2. Please describe how your project had measurable and sustainable impact. Share how you collected information or data throughout your project and used it to show how your actions had an impact on your issue. Then, share how your project carries on or continues to have impact even after you’ve done your part! 
3. Please describe how your project had a local connection to a national or global issue. Why does your project matter? Explain how your project meaningfully addressed an issue that is relevant nationwide and/or worldwide. 
4. Please describe the impact completing your Gold Award project has had on you. Include what new skills you may have gained, what qualities you have learned about yourself, and how these discoveries will help you in the future.

Find more information on the GSUSA website.

These scholarship opportunities are valuable resources for Girl Scouts and other students looking to pursue higher education. By taking advantage of these programs, young women can continue to excel academically and contribute to their communities as future leaders. Don’t miss the deadlines, and seize the chance to support your educational journey with these scholarships.