Talbots helps Women Succeed through Generous Scholarships

Once again, it gives me great pleasure to help the Talbots Charitable Foundation get word out about the 2012 Talbots Scholarship Program for women pursuing college degrees later in life.

Targeted to women returning to full or part time undergraduate studies, these scholarships reward individuals "demonstrating courage, conviction, and an insatiable entrepreneurial spirit."

Since 1997, the program has awarded more than $1 million to over 600 deserving women. And each year, Talbots has substantially increased the number and amount of scholarship awards.

This year, the Talbots Scholarship Program will award $200,000 in college scholarships for the 2012 academic year, including 17 $10,000 scholarships and one $30,000 scholarship. Only applicants seeking a bachelor’s degree are eligible to receive an award.

Finalists will be selected based on a number of criteria including academic record; demonstrated leadership and participation in community activities; honors; work experience; financial need; and a statement of educational and career goals.

To qualify, applicants must

• be women currently residing in the US or Canada;


• be women who earned a high school diploma or their GED on or before September 2001;


• be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full or part time undergraduate course of study at an accredited college or university in the US or Canada;


• be attending the full 2012-13 academic year and receiving a degree no earlier than May 2013; and


• have at least two semesters remaining to complete an undergraduate degree as of the beginning of the 2012 fall academic term.

All applications must be submitted electronically by January 3, 2012, and only the first 5,000 eligible applications will be processed. Registration and more information may be found on the Scholarship America website.