About the Scholarship Program

Students Without Mothers is dedicated to helping high school students without mothers help themselves by empowering them to continue their education. The organization’s main purpose is to provide scholarships for college bound high school students who are without their mothers due to death or other unfortunate circumstances.

Students are pre-selected during their junior year of high school. They are then recognized and awarded their scholarship certificate at the Annual Scholarship Luncheon the following year (their senior year) after completing the Life Coaching Program.

Each student receives a $4,000 scholarship (disbursed in annual payments of $1,000, if the student continues to meet the criteria for re-qualifying as outlined in the Scholarship Renewals section).

Eligibility Criteria

  • Student must be a current resident of Georgia
  • The program serves the 21-County Metro Atlanta Area (Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton); priority is given to students whose guardian earns $50,000 or less annually.
  • Must be planning to attend a two or four year institution of higher learning
  • Must participate in organization’s life coaching and grief counseling program during senior year of high school
  • Must attend at least two virtual life coaching sessions per year while in college
  • The mother is not in home; either due to death, or other unfortunate circumstances

Scholarship winners are encouraged to pay it forward. After successful completion of the program they are asked to give back in some way by either donating their time or providing financial support to future scholarship recipients.

Application

Scholarship applications are accepted between September 1st – January 31st.

Apply using the form below. You will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your application.

Selection Process

The scholarship selection committee meets in February to review applications and select recipients. Scholarship selections are based on the greatest need and the total number awarded each year vary based on the amount of funds available. Qualified applicants may be asked to speak with a committee member to explain why he/she has the greatest need and should be awarded a scholarship. Scholarships awards are not final until the guardian’s income is verified.

Students selected are required to provide additional information by a designated date before scholarship certificates are issued at the annual Scholarship Awards Reception in June.

The initial scholarship check is issued in July. Before future checks are issued, students must meet the criteria outlined in the Scholarship Renewals section.

Other Student Services

Laptop computers: Many of our students come from families who do not have the resources available to provide this necessity. Without a laptop computer, students are clearly at a disadvantage. Students Without Mothers provides each of its scholarship recipients with a new or rebuilt laptop computer.

Gift cards: Going to college is an exciting transition that many students aren’t prepared for. To assist with this transition, Students Without Mothers provides its students with gift cards to purchase necessities for their dormitories, school supplies, and personal items.

Assistance with Other Scholarship Opportunities: According to College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid, 2020, the average sticker price to attend a public college/university is $26,820 per year. The total cost includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and other miscellaneous costs.

average sticker price vs average net price

Students Without Mothers has a volunteer who takes responsibility for helping our students find additional scholarship funds. As donors and sponsors forward opportunities to our office, this volunteer forwards this information to the students and offers to assist them with the process of applying.

Assistance with College Application Process: For many students, applying to college is a daunting and confusing process. Students Without Mothers has volunteers available to assist its students with each phase of the application process. This includes school selection and future planning if a student intends to start at a 2-year institution and then transfer to a 4-year institution.

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