Updated: November 8, 2011
Since 1888, AAUW Has Provided More Than $90 Million to 11,000 Fellows, Grantees
WASHINGTON – The American Association of University Women (AAUW) will award $3.7 million in school year 2011–12 in support of 239 scholars, research projects, and programs promoting education and equity for women and girls. Since awarding its first fellowship in 1888, AAUW has provided more than $90 million to more than 11,000 fellows and grantees from around the globe.
"AAUW's tradition of awarding monetary support to worthy candidates dates back to a time when institutions blatantly discriminated against women and the prevailing thought was that women did not belong in the nation's colleges and universities. Our founding leaders rejected that notion and vowed to help those who would follow them. The end result is one of our nation's greatest success stories of women helping women," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE.
The 2011–12 fellows and grantees join a prestigious circle that includes trailblazers such as Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie and novelist Susan Sontag. It also includes many of today's leading thinkers and innovators, such as youth expert and author Rosalind Wiseman, economist Heather Boushey, and social entrepreneur Jane Chen. To find out more about this year's exceptional class of awardees, view the online directory of 2011–12 fellows and grantees when it goes live on the AAUW website on August 1.
"Each year, I am impressed by the outstanding level of quality of our fellows and grantees. This group is no exception," said Gloria Blackwell, AAUW director of fellowships, grants, and international programs. "The AAUW fellowship and grant program is a living testimony of the inspiring generosity of our members and donors, whose contributions allow us to offer one of the largest funding pools available exclusively for graduate-level women."
This year, AAUW awarded
The AAUW Educational Fund is among the largest sources of non-institutional funding of education for women, and commissions significant research on educational equity:
This booklist was compiled by the St. Lawrence County Branch of the Amercan Association of University Women with the help of Sarah Sachs, children’s librarian at the Potsdam, NY Public Library. Most of the books on this list address some aspect of women’s history for young readers.
The 2010 book list represents our second annual list; the first list was compiled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of AAUW’s Educational Foundation, the wing of AAUW that conducts research in educational issues affecting women and girls and provides scholarships to women graduate students. Please consider making a tax-deductable donation to AAUW’s Educational Foundation to support our important mission.
In 2009, AAUW donated several books for young readers on women’s history to the Potsdam Public Library. We hope to maintain a tradition of donating money and books towards building this specific aspect of the library’s collection, and we hold special events in March - Women’s History Month - to raise awareness of this public service aspect of our work.
Download the AAUW-St. Lawrence County's 2010 Books on Women's History for Young Readers here for your gift giving and reading needs this year!
WASHINGTON – AAUW has just launched the 2009-10 online Directory of Fellowship and Grant Recipients. The directory showcases the recipients of AAUW’s five fellowship and grant programs--214 individuals and nonprofit organizations that will receive more than $3 million in funding during the current program year. The current fellowship and grant recipients join AAUW’s growing network of more than 10,000 fellowship and grant alumnae. View the directory.
AAUW, a leader in advancing education for women for 128 years, invites aspiring scholars to apply for a new round of fellowships and grants for the 2010–11 academic year. An exciting new initiative added to this year’s program is the launch of the AAUW Branch and State Local Scholarship Clearinghouse—a pilot program promoting scholarship opportunities offered by AAUW at the local level.
“AAUW supports talented women who are breaking through barriers in their respective fields and communities,” said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. “We are extremely proud that AAUW is one the world’s largest sources of funding for graduate women, especially in these tough economic times.”
The online applications for AAUW’s national funding programs will be available August 1 on AAUW’s website. This funding will help women from the United States and abroad expand their professional opportunities, enter high-paying fields, change careers, or re-enter the workplace. Grants are also available for projects promoting education and equity, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and math. AAUW has awarded more than 10,000 fellowships and grants since 1888. Distinguished recipients include Marie Curie and the prominent psychologist Joyce Brothers.
Due to the long-standing, generous contributions of AAUW members across the United States, a broader community of women continues to gain access to educational and economic opportunities—breaking through educational and economic barriers so that all women have a fair chance.
In the 2009–10 academic year, AAUW is providing more than $3 million in funding for more than 200 fellowships and grants to outstanding women and nonprofit organizations. AAUW branches provide significant, additional funding each year for undergraduate scholarships.
“We are pleased to be able to offer additional opportunities to inform women about the tremendous scope of AAUW’s philanthropy at the national and local levels,” said Gloria Blackwell, AAUW director of fellowships and grants.
March 14: AAUW sponsored "Leaders and Readers" from 2-3:30 pm at the St. Lawrence County Arts Council, 51 Market Street, Potsdam, as part of its celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Education Foundation. Come to hear local leaders read from their favorite works to raise money for the Ed Foundation and the Branch's 50 Books for 50 Years: Sharing Women's History With a New Generation of Readers project. Find out more from EF VP Lyn Burkett.
When the Educational Foundation Vice President for St. Lawrence County Branch of AAUW, Lyn Burkett, Potsdam, started to plan for the 50th anniversary of the AAUW Educational Foundation EF), she wanted to design a project that would be a testament to the legacy of the Ed Foundation and raise funds to continue the scholarship EF supports.
So, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the AAUW Foundation, the St. Lawrence County Branch of AAUW is sponsoring 50 Books for 50 Years: Sharing Women's History With a New Generation of Readers. Lyn Burkett worked closely with Sarah Sachs, the Children's Librarian at the Potsdam Public Library, to update the women's history collection in the children's library.
Download the 50 Books list here!
In doing so, they created a 50 Books list for use by the 64 other libraries in the North Country Library System, many of which do not have a trained Children's Librarian on staff. In addition, anyone looking to buy a great book for a daughter, granddaughter, niece, neighbor, or donate to your own local library can access the list for their recommendations.
Most of the 50 Books are for 9-12 year old readers, but some are for young adults and some are for younger readers (as young as four years old). The topics include the suffragettes, science and invention, arts and entertainment, colonial America and the revolutionary war, American Civil War and Slavery, 1900-1945, religious traditions, sports, (un)common individuals, and film and television.
This program will raise funds to purchase fifty books for the Potsdam Public Library on different aspects of women's history for young readers. There are several ways to donate to this program.
Anyone may "adopt" one of the books on the 50 Books for 50 Years book list through the Potsdam library's Adopt-A-Book program. Your cost will be the library rate, which is normally a 42% discount on hard covers, and a 25% discount on paperbacks. Either stop in or call the library at 265-7230. You will receive an estimated cost on your request. You can decide whether you want a name plate attached. You will be called when your request arrives. Payment is made when the book arrives.
Also, cash donations for the 50 Books for 50 Years program may be made to Friends of the Library, who will purchase a book on the list for the collection.
In addition to donations for the 50 Books for 50 Years program, you are also encouraged to donate to the AAUW Educational Foundation. The AAUW Educational Foundation - the world's largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women - supports aspiring scholars around the globe, teachers and activists in local communities, women at critical stages of their careers, and those pursuing professions where women are underrepresented.
For St. Lawrence County Branch AAUW members, the suggested donation is $50, made out in two separate checks: one $25 check to the Educational Foundation and one $25 check to Friends of the Potsdam Library with a note specifying the 50 Books for 50 Years program. Of course, all donations, no matter how small or how large, are gladly accepted!
From Lab to Life was a Community Action project to encourage St. Lawrence County (NYS) girls to study science during 1998/99 school year. It made 5th to 7th grade girls aware of some interesting and exciting job opportunities for women with science degrees. The hands-on activities gave the girls confidence in their own abilities and talents to succeed in science classes. It also provided local role models and interaction with other women and girls interested in science.
The project coordinator, Pat Burdick, in her work as the Education consultant at the St. Lawrence Aquarium and Ecological Center and at the Indian Creek Nature Center, often hears the misperceptions that “scientist” means a man in a lab coat. Building on AAUW’s focus to encourage girls to do well in science, mathematics, and computer technology, this project connected young girls with women scientist role models at a critical point in their educational development.
Sixty girls from three rural St. Lawrence County school districts met once a week for 15 weeks to work with women scientists who use their science degree in different fields. At the first meeting in each of four blocks, a guest woman scientist spoke and answered questions about her career and why she chose to study science. At the next two sessions the girls did hands-on activities similar to those the scientist mentor does in her work. The last two sessions in the project featured a final speaker and the project evaluation and graduation.
The four women mentors included a field biologist, a research biologist, a professional artist who emphasizes the plants and animals of the North Country in her work, and an Adirondack folksinger who incorporates many animal and ecology themes in her music. The girls had an opportunity to conduct field studies at the Indian Creek Nature Center, work in a biology and a computer lab, illustrate their own nature journals, and write a song in a computer lab.
Several members of the St. Lawrence County Branch, AAUW assisted with this program as mentoring women scientists. In addition, the branch provided information, encouragement, and practical help during the grant-writing process with two branch-sponsored workshops. The first, “How to Write a Grant Proposal” in 1996, and the second, “Hands On Some AAUW Grants” in 1997, provided information about AAUW’s Community Action Grants, as well as the technical expertise to turn the From Lab to Life proposal into an award-winning CAG.