Ready to write your comeback story? Woman of Wonder scholarships are coming
What if someone told you that your biggest obstacle could become your greatest strength?
What if being a single mom, or growing up with a single parent, or figuring out how to fund your education completely alone wasn't a disadvantage at all—but proof that you're exactly the kind of woman who deserves support, celebration, and a community cheering you toward the finish line?
Welcome to Woman of Wonder. We see you. And we're about to make your academic year a whole lot brighter.
The countdown is on
Circle January 1 on every calendar you own. That's when our scholarship application portal opens, and we want YOUR name in the running.
We're distributing scholarships between $1,500 and $2,200 to women college students right here in Southwest Washington. Women who are doing the impossible every single day. Women who understand that earning a degree isn't just about showing up to class—it's about rearranging your entire life around the dream of something better.
And here's what makes us different: we don't just hand you a check and wave goodbye. We walk beside you. We become your people. We make sure you know that someone out there is rooting for you on the hard days and celebrating with you on the good ones.
Because that's what "bringing more to women's lives" means to us. More than money. More than a line on a resume. More connection, more encouragement, more proof that you're not alone in this fight.
ALERT: Link to the scholarship application posts Jan 1
Why old pictures? I write the scholarship blog posts, and I just like the old stuff. Now, don’t be shy. Apply.
Photo by Art Institute of Chicago.
Is this scholarship for you?
Let's get straight to it. You're eligible if you're a woman pursuing higher education in Southwest Washington and you identify with one of these experiences:
Single motherhood is your reality
A single parent raised you
Every tuition payment comes out of your own pocket
Notice what's NOT on that list? Your GPA. How many credits you're taking. Your age. Whether you've been out of school for two years or twenty.
We award scholarships for undergraduate programs, graduate degrees (yes, that includes MA, PhD, MD, JD, and everything in between), professional certificates, and continuing education courses. High school seniors planning to start college? You're invited to apply too.
Your path is your path. We're just here to help you walk it.
Let's talk about "full-time student" for a minute
We know what your life actually looks like. You're working because bills don't pay themselves. You're raising kids because they need you every single day. You're keeping the fridge stocked, managing the laundry mountain, and handling whatever housekeeping you can stomach before you collapse into bed.
The idea of taking a full course load? That's not reality. That's fantasy.
So here's what you need to know: we award scholarships to part-time students. We award scholarships to less-than-part-time students. We award scholarships to women taking one class per semester because that's all their life can hold right now.
Your pace is your pace. Progress is progress. And we're here to support whatever forward motion you can manage while keeping your life from falling apart.
Building your application (without losing your mind)
Deep breath. We know you're busy. We know adding one more thing to your to-do list feels impossible. So we've kept this straightforward.
Here's your application checklist:
Letters of recommendation (you need two)
Ask people who genuinely know your character. Not just people with impressive titles, but humans who can speak to who you are when things get tough. Your boss. A former professor. Your child's teacher. A community mentor. A volunteer coordinator. Someone from your faith community.
Pro tip? Ask three or four people. Life happens. People get overwhelmed. Having backups means you won't be scrambling at the deadline.
And please, PLEASE ask now. Don't wait until March when everyone's drowning in their own responsibilities. A “way before deadline” request gives people time to write something meaningful instead of dashing something off that doesn't capture the full, wonderful you.
Your story (the personal essay)
This is the heart of your application, and honestly? It's our favorite part to read.
We want to hear about a pivotal moment. The experience that shifted everything. Maybe it was the day you decided to go back to school. The conversation that made you realize you were capable of more. The hardship that revealed your strength. The moment you looked at your life and said, "Something has to change."
Tell us what happened. Tell us how it changed you. Help us understand the woman you're becoming because of where you've been.
We read every single essay. Every word matters. Your story matters.
Financial documentation
Submit a screenshot of your FAFSA that shows your Student Aid Index (SAI) number. We know financial need is real, and we want these scholarships landing in the hands of women who will feel the impact.
The basic details
Your student ID number, if you have one already. Your major or intended area of study (just a word or two, nothing fancy). Whether you're pursuing a minor. Standard stuff.
The extras we love to see
Working while going to school? Tell us. Volunteering in your community beyond what's required for class? We want to hear about it. Doing anything else that shows your commitment to building the life you're imagining? Share it.
These aren't requirements. They're just windows into who you are.
When you become a Woman of Wonder scholar
Picture this: It's June. You get the call. You've been selected!
Your scholarship check goes straight to your school before the tuition deadline. No hassle. No waiting. Just relief.
But then something even better happens.
You get assigned a Kindness Courier
This is a real human who will send you postcards, letters, and emails throughout the year. Encouragement when you're drowning in assignments. Celebration when you ace that brutal exam. Reminders that someone out there believes you're going to make it.
It's not automated. It's not generic. It's personal. It's connection. It's the feeling of opening your mailbox and finding proof that someone sees your effort and your worth. And guess what? You don’t have to write back, we know you’re busy, we simply want some good thoughts coming your each month.
Learn more about our Kindness Courier program.
You're invited to our White Elephant Book Exchange in March
Free entrance. Community connection. Other amazing women. And books, because books make everything better.
This event helps us build visibility and raise funds, but more importantly, it builds relationships. You'll meet other scholars, connect with our board, and remember that you're part of something bigger than yourself.
Want to share your experience at the event? We'd love that. And we'll thank you with a gift card to a local bookstore so you can keep building your personal library. (Oops, that was supposed to be a surprise. Please pretend to be surprised!)
Read about our White Elephant Book Exchange.
You'll join a Microsoft Teams call with our board
First Saturday of a month that works for YOUR schedule. Come say hello. Thank us if you want. Ask questions. Share frustrations. Tell us what's working and what's hard. What you wished you had: a laptop, unlimited bank account, free childcare. (We want the same things!) We're here to listen. And your feedback directs our strategic planning.
What we need from you in return
Mid-year check-in: Just a quick note letting us know you're still enrolled and what you're learning. That's it.
End-of-year report: Total credit hours you've earned to date and when you anticipate graduating. We need this data to apply for grants that keep this program running, so this one's non-negotiable. Take it seriously.
Photo permission: We'll ask for your photo so we can celebrate you on social media and show other women what's possible when someone believes in them.
That's it. Pretty simple, right?
(And if you happen to send us a handwritten thank-you note in the mail? Well, we might just send you a little surprise. Because we believe in acknowledging kindness with kindness.)
Mark your calendar right now
Applications open: January 1
Applications close: First week of April
Awards announced: Mid June
We'll share the application link everywhere. Our blog. Our Instagram and Facebook (@womanofwonder501c3). Our email newsletter. You won't miss it.
Questions before then? Email us at info@womanofwonder.org. Seriously. We answer every message. Just throw in a little patience, because this nonprofit is entirely volunteer-run. We want every dollar possible to go to scholarships (with a little set aside to build an endowment fund).
Three things to do today
Don't bookmark this and forget about it. Don't tell yourself you'll deal with it later. Do these three things RIGHT NOW:
1. Reach out to potential recommenders
Send that text. Write that email. Have that coffee date. Say, "I'm applying for a scholarship that could change my life, and I'd be honored if you'd write me a letter of recommendation." Give them time to say yes and actually do it well.
2. Start journaling your pivotal moment
Set a timer for ten minutes. Write about the experience that changed your trajectory. Don't worry about grammar or structure yet. Just get the story out of your head and onto paper (or into your notes app). You can polish it later. Right now, just capture the truth of it.
3. Believe you're worthy of this
Not because you're perfect. Not because you never struggle or doubt or want to quit. But because you keep showing up. You keep pushing forward. You keep believing that education is your pathway to something better.
That's what we see when we read your application. Not your flaws. Your courage.
Why Woman of Wonder exists
Our founder was a single mom. Her daughter grew up watching her mama work hard for every opportunity and wait decades for that first promotion into management. And Grandma? When she wanted to go to college, she had no support, so our founder’s mom tackled it herself.
This scholarship program? It's personal. It's generational. It's about empowering our community, caring about women's journeys, and celebrating their accomplishments.
We're not a faceless organization writing checks. We're women who understand what it costs to pursue education when everything in your life seems designed to make it impossible.
And we're here to tell you: It's not impossible. It's hard, yes. And it is possible.
Especially when you have people walking beside you who refuse to let you give up.
Your future is calling
Applications open January 1. Your Kindness Courier is waiting to meet you. Your scholarship is ready to be claimed. Your community is here, preparing to welcome you with open arms.
All you have to do is apply.
Start gathering your letters of recommendation today.
Your year is about to get a whole lot brighter.
Ready to learn how to create a winning application?
Check out our comprehensive scholarship application series:
Scholarships that spark possibilities for women in SW Washington
Oh, we threw an extra blog post (or three) in the mix with more tips
Bonus 1 - Tips for submitting successful scholarship applications
Bonus 2 - Options to reduce the cost of college tuition
Bonus 3 - Your biggest obstacle becomes your greatest strength
About Woman of Wonder
We're a Southwest Washington nonprofit providing scholarships to single moms, women raised by single parents, and women funding college independently. We serve Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties. Learn more about our scholarships.