ECW College and Women of the Well Scholarships

Over the last decade or more, the ECW has awarded over $100,000 in college scholarships to students in the Diocese of Alabama. The ECW College Scholarship program was born perhaps just prior to 1900 with a request from then–Bishop Richard Hooker Wilmer to John Ward Noble, the builder of St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church in Anniston, AL., to enable daughters of diocesan clergymen to attend the Noble Institute. Since that time other funds have been established in recognition of people who have taken to heart the education of young people in our diocese; several of those funds include restrictions in addition to the policies of the ECW Board and Scholarship Committee. In recent years these named funds have been augmented significantly by the ECW General Scholarship Fund, which is derived from the diocesan and parish ECW budgets, memorials, alms and other gifts. In addition to Bishop Wilmer, the donors whose dedication and vision continue to inspire us include Edith Buell Wilson, Isla Hall Hilderbrand, Elizabeth Blair Pannell, Sarah Sterret Porter, Bishop Onell Soto and St. John’s Church, Ensley.

How to donate to the ECW College Scholarship Fund

If you or your parish would like to contribute to the education of a young person in our church family, please consider making a gift to the ECW College Scholarship Fund. Your generosity is the only way to continue this very important program. All contributions may be sent to: ECW, Diocese of Alabama, 521 North 20th Street, Birmingham, Al 35203-2611. Please note on your check ECW College Scholarship Fund. 

Application Information

All scholarships are based on 40% need, 40% church involvement and 20% merit. Applicants must be communicants of the Diocese of Alabama and must provide document information regarding family’s financial status (IRS 1040 Form). Application may be made each year a student is in college with awards limited to a maximum of two years. Granted funds are mailed directly to the registrar’s office of the college. Since Seminarians receive CPC funds, they are ineligible for ECW scholarships. Applications must be accompanied by a transcript, photograph, and a Church Involvement Survey completed by the Parish Priest (or Senior Warden, if no Priest). Incomplete packages will not be evaluated. If applying for a second scholarship, the College Chaplain’s evaluation is acceptable. All required information forms must be completed and postmarked by May 16th with awards announced in June.

Eligibility Requirements and Application Process

• All required information forms must be completed and postmarked by May 16th

• A communicant in good standing with the Episcopal Church, Diocese of Alabama

• Accepted or enrolled in an academic institution of college rank

• Pursuing professional certification or a degree from an accredited institution

• Able to show financial need

• A recipient of no more than one previous ECW Scholarship

Click Here For Scholarship Application Form

Click Here for Church Involvement Form

Application Packets must be complete, and must arrive by May 16th. Application Packet must include:

1.  Completed Application Form

2.  Recent transcript

3.  A one or two-page essay summarizing your need, your school and community accomplishments, and your church activities.

4.  The Church Involvement Form, completed by your priest.

5.  Your parents most recent Federal Tax Return (first 2 pages).

6.   Photograph no larger than 5x7, to be published.

Instructions for completing the package are included on the Application Form.

Applications must be postmarked or received electronically by May 16th of the year of application.

Completed applications should be sent to the ECW Scholarship Chair: Kathleen Franklin, 3420 Blueberry Lane, Vestavia Hills Al 35216.

The awards will be announced in June. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated. If applying for a second scholarship, an evaluation by college chaplain is acceptable. Scholarship Application Forms and Church Involvement Surveys may be downloaded from the links on this page (see above), or requested from the Scholarship Chairman and mailed to you.

For more information on Scholarships, contact our Scholarship Chair:

Kathleen Franklin

Email: kathleenfrnkln@gmail.com

Cell phone: 205-370-7055

Women at the Well

The Women at the Well Scholarship is available to women, both lay and clergy, seeking refreshment. Women of the Well Scholarship applications may be submitted at any time to the Scholarship chair.  To be eligible for a Women at the Well Scholarship, an applicant must be a lay or clergy women who is a communicant good standing with the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Alabama; accepted or enrolled in a spiritual or religious program or lecture, and a recipient of no more than one previous ECW scholarship. Each recipient of this program may receive no more than a total of $400.  The application form should be submitted 2 months prior to the program or event, to allow time for review by the committee.

Click Here For Women At The Well Scholarship Application