Community Education
Minerva Scholarship applications due March 31
The Minerva Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 academic year.
Education Sponsor
Education stories are made possible in part by Tacoma Community College, a proud sponsor of Gig Harbor Now.
Minerva has awarded nearly $600,000 in scholarships and helped more than 225 local women achieve their educational goals over the past 33 years. The scholarship is open to all women living or working within the Peninsula School District who have experienced at least a one-year interruption in their formal education and are seeking to return to complete a degree or certification.
The deadline is March 31. Click here for information on how to apply.
Minerva scholarships provide financial support for vocational programs, two-year and four-year college degrees, and graduate-level programs, including accredited online and out-of-state institutions. Minerva scholars have pursued careers in diverse fields such as nano-engineering, medicine, environmental science, truck driving, social work, particle physics, gerontology and more.
The 2024 Minerva Scholars. Front row, from left, Kylie Roppolo, Lauren Henrickson, Kristen East and Gretchen Schowalter. Minerva alumnae stand behind them. Photo by Julie Warrick Ammann
For women balancing education, work, and family responsibilities, the journey to achieving academic and professional goals can be challenging. The scholarship fund was established to empower, encourage, and invest in women of all ages who are determined to further their education and make a lasting impact in their communities.
According to Minerva Board President Julie Offner, feedback from recipients consistently affirms the impact of MSF’s visionary founders and attests to the life-changing benefits of the scholarship program.
Longbranch resident Gretchen Showalter, for example, is now attending the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, pursuing a master of science in particle physics.
“Receiving the Minerva Scholarship gives me the confidence to continue my studies, knowing I have the support of this community. It also provides a level of financial stability I was previously unable to ensure,” Showalter said.
As a scholarship fund of the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation, Minerva benefits from expert fund management, scholarship administration, and compliance services. These resources strengthen MSF’s long-term sustainability and expand its capacity to support local women. For more information visit minervagigharbor.org or gigharborfoundation.org/minerva-scholarship-fund.