Education Opportunities
The Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund (SBMEF) is one of the country’s most highly respected grant and scholarship funds for women.
We’ll Help You Grow
Krista Rogers
Member of Lakeland Downtown ABWA
Recipient of the Stephen Bufton Memorial Education Fund
$10,000 National President’s Scholarship
SBMEF has been supporting women in business for more than 50 years. The fund assists women pursuing advanced educational goals and helps them achieve business and professional success.The National Board of Directors of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) serve as the SBMEF trustees, overseeing the funds administration. Each year the trustees work to maximize funding to provide financial assistance to hundreds of American women attending college, trade school or professional development.
The Key to SBMEF is the energy and commitment of ABWA members who sponsor applicants, make contributions, and raise money to champion the important mission of this fund.
- $2,000 Impact Scholarship-Lakeland Downtown Chapter
For 2019-2020
Criteria:Scholarship applicants must be female citizens and residents of the United States - Be 18 years of age by July 31, 2019
- Earned or will earn a minimum of 18 credit hours by July 31, 2019
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Attend Polk State College or Southeastern University in August 2019
- DEADLINE: May 31, 2019.
OUTRIGHT GRANT
Designed to offset the costs of tuition, books and fees for degree-seeking students from institutions that have a minimum baccalaureate degree.
- There are potentially (3) ORG scholarships awarded per district per Award Year.
- A sponsoring league may submit only (1) applicant each Award Year
- All applicants will be pooled by district.
- The three (3) highest ranked applicants per district will be awarded a $2,000 ORG scholarship.
IMPACT SCHOLARSHIP
Lakeland Downtown sponsors (1) $2,000 Impact Scholarship to a female citizen and resident of the United States, age 18 or older attending Polk State College or Southeastern University with a Minimum 3.00 GPA.
BUSINESS SKILLS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT SCHOLARSHIP
Specifically targets professional development for businesswomen. BSTR is intended for the non-degree seeking applicant.
- Lakeland Downtown contributes a minimum of $500 each year for BSTR’s. 50% of the contribution is available to the approved applicants. Minimum BSTR Scholarship awarded is $50 and the maximum amount awarded to an applicant is $500 in the Award year based on chapter funds contributed to SBMEF and available.
- $500 contributed for the 2019-2020 year with $250 available for reimbursement (s).
NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
These scholarships will be available for application beginning October 2019. Please apply ASAP as slots fill up quickly.
$2,500
National Scholarship in Honor of
Carlene Brown
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Institution:None specified
- Field of Study: None specified
- GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Level: Freshman – Graduate
- Type: Non-renewable
$2,500
In Memory of Beloved Member,
Jane Nicklay
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Institution: None specified
- Field of Study: Teaching
- GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Level: Freshman – Graduate
- Type: Non-renewable
$2,500
In Memory of Betty “Betsy” Tudor
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Institution: None specified
- Field of Study: None specified
- GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Level: Completed at least 30 hours of coursework
- Type: Non-renewable
$2,500
National Scholarship In Memory of Beloved Member, Kris Ann Martin
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Texas A&M
- Field of Study: None specified
- GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Level: Freshman-Graduate
- Type: Non-renewable
$3,000
National Scholarship in Memory of
Betty Ann Burns
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Institution: University of Kansas
- Field of Study: School of Business
- GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Level: Freshman-Graduate
- Type: Non-renewable
$10,000
National President’s Scholarship in Honor of 2018-2019 President, Felicia Johnson
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Institution: Tennessee State University
- Field of Study: STEM
- GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Level: Completed at least 30 hours of coursework
- Type: Non-renewable
Overview of Policies for all SMBEF Scholarships
- All scholarship applicants must be female, US citizens and attending a U.S. based institution that is licensed, accredited or state approved.
- Members and/or non-members can participate in one, two, three, or four of the scholarship programs.
- No applicant is ever guaranteed a scholarship.
- All scholarship applications for SMBEF must be completed on-line.
- All checks must be used for the purpose as designated by the SMBEF (tuition, books, and fees)
- All checks are made payable to the applicant and to the learning institution with the exception of BSTR.
- Checks must be cashed within 6 months of issuance.
- Unused scholarship funds do not “roll-over” to the next year.
- SBMEF does not offer any reoccurring scholarships.
- Scholarships not awarded are not rolled over. However, the scholarship funds are returned to the SBMEF.
