The YWCA of Greater Cincinnati
2010 Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship Award
The YWCA
The mission of the YWCA is to empower women and eliminate racism. Today the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati
reaches more than 35,000 women and their families annually through critically needed programs that include two
battered women shelters and transitional housing; intervention services for male abusers and at-risk youth; adult
and family literacy programs; job readiness, placement, and case management programs for single mothers
transitioning from public assistance; GED tutoring and classes; a breast and cervical health network; youth health
and wellness programs; the Salute to Career Women of Achievement; and the Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship Fund.
Mamie Earl Sells
Mamie Earl Sells was committed to young people, promoting programs that encouraged them to expand and
improve their personal lives and career opportunities. This scholarship is dedicated to her memory, to honor her
loyalty and service to the community through her volunteer work in the arts, race relations, education, and social
services. Personally dedicated to the YWCA during the last decade of her life, Mamie played a leadership role in
developing the Salute to Career Women of Achievement event, and served as board member, vice president of
membership, and overall friend to the YWCA. This scholarship award honors Mamie’s philosophy that we must “lift
as we climb,” meaning that we must act as role models and mentors to the young women of today and tomorrow.
Scholarship Application Criteria
 Student must be an African American female.
 Student must be in the top 1/3 of her high school class and/or have a minimum scholastic average of
“B” (3.0).
 Student must be attending a high school in the Greater Cincinnati area.
 Scholarships will be awarded upon proof of enrollment at a post-secondary institution or college.
Scholarship Evaluation Factors
This donor-restricted fund provides financial assistance to African American females entering academic postsecondary institutions. Factors evaluated by the scholarship committee include
 Academic record
 Involvement in extracurricular activities
 High school class rank
 Community Service
 ACT and/or SAT scores
 Employment history
 Essay quality
 Application of special talents
An additional factor for consideration is the ability to overcome adversity.
The Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship winner will be honored at the prestigious YWCA Salute to Career Women of
Achievement luncheon, in May 2010. In addition, the top finalists will also receive recognition.
The following application is three pages long. Be sure to include all required materials and fill out all
sections of this application. A completed application packet will include this completed application, a
current high school transcript, a copy of any ACT and/or SAT scores, and two letters of recommendation.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2010.
(If needed, you may copy this application form or visit www.ywcacincinnati.org)
Send Completed Application Packages to:
The YWCA of Greater Cincinnati
Development Department – MES Scholarship
898 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
For questions or more information, please call Sophia Helms at 513-361-2127 or email shelms@ywcacin.org.
The 2010 Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship Award Application
All of the following items must be completed for consideration. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All
information will be kept confidential. Please be sure to type or print your answers legibly. You may use additional
paper if needed. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 11, 2010.
Personal Information
Name
Last
First
Middle
Address, City, State
Zip
Phone
Cell
Email
Birth Date
Father’s Name
Employer
Position
Mother’s Name
Employer
Position
Guardian’s Name
Employer
Number of people living in your household
(including yourself)
Position
High School Information
High School
Address
City/State/Zip
Phone
Fax
Grade Point Average
GPA Date
Class Size
High School Counselor Name
Class Rank (if applicable)
(Please Print)
High School Counselor Signature
H. S. Counselor Phone
H. S. Counselor Email
College Information
What is your proposed college major?
To which schools have you applied?
Which schools have accepted you?
Which school are you planning to
attend? (if applicable)
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The 2010 Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship Award Application
All of the following items must be completed for consideration. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All
information will be kept confidential. Please be sure to type or print your answers legibly. You may use additional
paper if needed. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 11, 2010.
Please list any academic awards/honors you have received.
Name of Award/Honor
Year Received
Reason Received
Please list your extracurricular activities in school. Be sure to include leadership positions.
Activity
Dates of Participation
Office Held
Please list your community involvement. Be sure to include leadership positions.
Organization
Volunteer Role/Activity
Hours
Volunteered
Dates of
Service
High School Credit
received? (y/n)
Please list your employment history below.
Name of Employer
Job Description
Dates of Employment
Essay Questions
On a separate piece of paper, write a personal statement to answer the following questions.
1. What is the greatest challenge or hardship that you have faced in your life? How has it affected who you
are? How has it affected your life goals? (~200 words, typewritten)
2. What does Mamie Earl Sells philosophy, “to lift as we climb,” mean to you? Be sure to explain why acting
as role models and mentors to young women of today and tomorrow is important not only for you, but for all
women. You may include your education and career goals. (~300 words, typewritten)
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The 2010 Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship Award Application
All of the following items must be completed for consideration. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All
information will be kept confidential. Please be sure to type or print your answers legibly. You may use additional
paper if needed. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 11, 2010.
Please check to ensure that you have completed and included all of the following items
in your application packet.

COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM (Please remember to include your high school counselor’s
name and contact information, as well as your school’s contact information!)

TWO ESSAYS, TYPEWRITTEN

A COPY OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT

A COPY OF YOUR ACT and/or SAT SCORES

TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Student’s Signature
Date
Parent/Guardian’s Signature
Date
(if student is under 18 years of age)
How did you find out about this scholarship?
Please submit all materials (applications, essays, transcripts, test scores, and letters) together in one
complete application package to:
The YWCA of Greater Cincinnati
Development Department – MES Scholarship
898 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
COMPLETED APPLICATION PACKAGES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN
MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2010.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sophia Helms at (513) 361-2127 or email
shelms@ywcacin.org.
Thank you and good luck!
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