SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

The Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic awards annual scholarships of varying amounts to eligible high school senior women who will attend a 4-year college/university in the fall. High School counselors are given information regarding the date and location of this annual event. We also award scholarships to eligible undergraduate college women who are members in good standing of any of the 26 NPC sororities.

2024 SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES - HIGH SCHOOL APPLICANTS

Eligibility Requirements - applicants must meet all of these requirements:

1. Reside in Glendale, Burbank, La Canada, La Crescenta, Montrose, Tujunga or Sunland OR currently attend or will graduate from one of the public or private high schools in those residential areas in the spring of 2024.
2. Have a minimum unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.0, verified by a copy of her high school transcript.
3. Will attend a 4-year college or university in the fall of 2024.

Deadline Date: March 4, 2024 - Incomplete applications or information requested, including Recommendation Letters, received after the deadline will not be eligible.

If you are interested in applying for our Scholarship, please contact Julie Weller - Scholarship Chair - at gapascholarship@gmail

SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES -- COLLEGIATE APPLICANTS

An application for college applicants will be sent to those who meet these eligibility requirements:

1. Reside in Glendale, Burbank, La Canada, La Crescenta, Montrose, Tujunga or Sunland OR graduated from one of the public or private high schools in those residential areas.
2. Must currently be an undergraduate and active member in good standing of one of the 26 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities;
3. Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, verified by a copy of the most recent college transcript;
4. Will attend a 4-year college or university in the fall, as a full-time undergraduate student. Seniors or Graduate Students are not eligible.
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SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES - ALL APPLICANTS

The Scholarship Chair and committee members will review all applications. After the review, the Scholarship Chair has the option to invite any applicants to participate in a personal interview. It is possible not all applicants will have a personal interview. Interviews will be held via Zoom on March 12, 13 and/or March 14, 2024 and will last up to 30 minutes. All applicants chosen for an interview will be emailed a link to Sign Up Genius to schedule their interview.

Applicants will be notified at a later date regarding scholarship award decisions. Each Scholarship recipient must submit an acceptance agreement and proof of enrollment at a 4-year college or university for the fall term. Scholarship checks will be mailed after receipt of all documents reque4sted by Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic. Usually this occurs once the recipient has started fall college classes.

MARY ELLEN GILSTRAP MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Mary Ellen Gilstrap was a 50-year resident of Glendale and La Canada. When she passed away in 2005, the Gilstrap family designated the Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic as a recipient of donations in Mary Ellen’s memory. A separate scholarship was created in her honor. One scholarship is awarded each year, with the recipient selected from both the eligible high school and the college sorority member applicants. This ""star" award selection is based on the ideals that were Mary Ellen’s: to have a sincere desire for learning, to be actively involved in school and community service, to have plans for career development, to demonstrate high standards as a person, and to value family and friends.

Mary Ellen was the Chi Omega delegate to the Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic for 18 years. She was President of the Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic in 1991-1992 and 2000-2001, and was President of the Southern California Council of Alumnae Panhellenics, an organization made up of over 30 Southern California alumnae Panhellenic groups that support 19 Southern California colleges and Universities. She followed her sorority’s ideals throughout her entire life - the promotion of sincere learning and credible scholarship, community service, career development, quality activities, high personal standards, and most importantly, friendship.

Mary Ellen taught in Glendale and La Canada schools and the St. Bede CCD program. She was a co-owner and Director of the La Canada Pre-School for 28 years. Her three children graduated from La Canada High School.

She found time to be part of the Newcomers, was a charter member of the Canada Auxiliary of Professionals of the Assistance League of Flintridge, was on the Substance Abuse Task Force of the Health Policy Committee of Verdugo Hills Hospital, and was a member of the La Canada Flintridge Community Child Development Task Force. She was also involved with the La Canada Players. She was the 2001 winner of the Ada Tallman service award, and was named Educator of the Year in 2004 by the La Canada Chamber of Commerce.