MonticelloLive

The International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood has announced a new scholarship opportunity for women. Being added to the existing scholarship program is the Star Scholarship Pilot Program which will be available for graduating high school seniors. This individual award of $2,500 is a non-renewable scholarship. It is available to women aged 20 and under who will be graduating high school in the spring of 2009.

P.E.O. has long awarded financial help to women within two years of completing their course of study through the ELF, PCE, IPS, and PSA programs.

The ELF (Educational Loan Fund) was established in 1907 and makes loans to qualified women in need of financial assistance. The current maximum loan is $9,000 at 4% interest and due six years from the date of issue. Interest is billed annually with principal payments to begin after graduation. Since 1907, more than $117 million has been loaned to nearly 41,000 women.

The PCE (Program for Continuing Education) is a program to provide need based grants to women whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and/or their families. Applicants must have been a non-student for 24 consecutive months sometime during her adult life. Since its inception in 1973, more than $30 million in small grants has been awarded to more than 30,000 women. The maximum grant is $2,000.

The IPS (International Peace Scholarship Fund) was established in 1949 to provide scholarships for international students to pursue graduate study in the United States and Canada. Its’ purpose is to encourage peace through education and understanding. Any recipient must be returning to her native country after completing her course of study.

The PSA (P.E.O. Scholar Awards) was begun in 1991 to provide substantial awards to women who are pursuing advanced degrees or engaged in advanced study and research. This award is not a need based scholarship, but a highly competitive merit award.

All applicants for these awards and scholarships must be recommended by the local P.E.O. chapter.

In addition to these opportunities made possible by the International Chapter, the local chapter awards an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a graduate of Drew Central or Monticello High Schools who has accumulated 24 hours of college credit.

Chapter AB of Monticello was granted their charter in 1946. For more information on any of these programs, call 367-2012 or talk to any P.E.O. member.