AAUW-TC Opens Three $2,000 Scholarships for Regional Students

The Traverse City Area AAUW announced on Jan. 8 that three scholarships of $2,000 each will be available to students living in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska or Leelanau counties, with applications accepted from Jan. 15 through March 1, 2026. One award, the Votruba Moore Scholarship, will be administered through the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation at gtrcf.org. The two branch scholarships will be available through the AAUW-TC website at aauwtc.org.

Applicants must have completed at least two years of post-secondary education and be enrolled for at least nine credit hours per semester to qualify. The eligibility criteria indicate the scholarships are designed primarily for students beyond their first year—such as transfer students, community college attendees progressing toward a credential, or returning adults seeking to complete degrees or upgrade skills.

For Grand Traverse County residents, the awards offer direct, short-term financial relief at a moment when continuing education and credential completion are central to local workforce development. A $2,000 award can offset a meaningful portion of semester tuition, textbooks, or course fees and may make the difference for students balancing work, family, and study. Locally targeted scholarships also help retain residents who pursue higher education by lowering the immediate cost barrier to completion and improving the pipeline of credentialed workers for regional employers.

From a broader economic perspective, philanthropic and community-based scholarships complement public funding and employer-supported training, filling gaps in support for nontraditional and mid-career students. The partnership with the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation highlights how local foundations and civic organizations are channeling resources toward post-secondary attainment—an important factor for communities seeking to maintain a skilled workforce without relying solely on statewide or federal programs.

Residents who meet the requirements can begin applications on Jan. 15 at gtrcf.org for the Votruba Moore Scholarship and at aauwtc.org for the two branch scholarships. The application window closes March 1, 2026, and awards will be distributed to selected recipients in accordance with each program’s timetable. For students balancing employment and study, these awards represent both immediate financial support and a nudge toward degree completion that can yield longer-term income and employment benefits for individuals and the county.