Scholarships available for single mothers interested in STEM-related fields

ONEONTA, Ala. — The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham recently donated $25,000 to the Wallace State Community College Future Foundation to benefit single mothers with an interest in continuing their education in STEM-related fields.
The fund is offering five $5,000 scholarships to single mothers in Blount County who enroll in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs. The focus will be on programs that will lead to careers in high demand, high wage industries, said Kristi Barnett, Grant Specialist with the Future Foundation.
Qualifying students must live in Blount County, be a single mother, qualify for the Pell Grant and be willing to participate in success coaching. Students will be able to take classes at either the Wallace State Hanceville or Oneonta campus, as well as online. The funds will be dispersed through three semesters, with $1,500 gifted in the first and second semesters and $2,000 in the third semester and must be dispersed before the close of 2019.
This is the second donation from the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham for single mothers in Blount County. Last year, the organization donated another $25,000 for scholarships for single mothers interested in earning a certificate in welding. Two of those $5,000 scholarships currently remain available, with a deadline to use those funds quickly approaching.
“We are very thankful to the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham for their support and encouragement of single mothers in our area who can use these funds to help them fulfill a dream they might otherwise not be able to accomplish,” said Wallace State-Oneonta Director Wes Rakestraw. “This latest donation opens even more doors to students who may be interested in a career in engineering, mathematics, science and any number of technology fields. This will give them a great head start on realizing those dreams.”
Interested students should contact Kristi Barnett at 256.352.8231 or kristi.barnett@wallacestate.edu.