PITTSFIELD, Mass. Berkshire Business & Professional Women (BBPW) 2022 Career Advancement Scholarship Program, which supports the unique needs of non-traditional women students, will be accepting applications through Friday, June 17. 

 

Applications can be completed and submitted online at berkshirebpw.org. Recipients can receive awards of up to $2,500 and selections will be announced in early August. In the last two years, BBPW scholarships have provided $41,000 in support to 42 local women reflecting diverse ages, backgrounds, and career aspirations.

 

Scholarship awards support women in Berkshire County looking to bolster their careers through continued education. Grants can be used toward tuition, books, travel, childcare, or any expenses incurred for college, graduate school, vocational programs, licensing courses, or other areas of professional development.

 

Hannah DeLisle-Stall, chair of the Scholarship Committee, said that BBPW scholarships help women with costs beyond tuition and course fees. 

 

"Our scholarships help to close the gaps often left by other aid sources. Scholarship recipients have used BBPW grants to cover childcare, course materials, and even purchase a laptop – all barriers that may have otherwise kept them from taking steps to advance – or even change – their careers," said DeLisle-Stall.

 

BBPW also recognizes the changing employment landscape in the community, with many career paths requiring credentials outside of a formal degree. In response, BBPW scholarships can also be awarded for women pursuing licenses, certifications, or sitting for exams required to advance their careers.

 

Jennifer Valente, a 2021 scholarship awardee, said the award has helped her take her career to a new level.

 

"I was so excited to have this opportunity to enhance my skill set which helped me achieve a new level of autonomy in my professional life," said Valente, who used her scholarship to pursue a massage therapy certificate to complement her work as a physical therapist assistant.

 

Nicole Rivera, another 2021 recipient, said the grant helped her return to school after postponing her education to work to support her family. 

 

"Receiving this scholarship not only alleviated the financial burden of paying for my academic and professional growth but also encouraged me to continue my educational path to become a bilingual social worker," Rivera said.

 

DeLisle-Stall said she wants current donors to the BBPW scholarship program, as well as those interested, to know that these grants truly make a difference in the lives of recipients, and have a positive impact on the community. 

 

"So many of our scholarship recipients go on to achieve great success in their careers - many with nonprofits or as educators, others as entrepreneurs and executives. Many serve as mentors and role models for other women through BBPW and other organizations. It sort of brings new meaning to ‘your donations stay local,’" Delisle-Stall said.

 

For complete details on eligibility and how to apply,  visit  https://berkshirebpw.org/programs/scholarship/.

 

To donate to the BBPW Scholarship Fund, please visit http://tinyurl.com/BBPWdonate . 

 

BBPW is a membership organization open and welcoming to all women in the Berkshires. For more information, email bbpwmembership@gmail.com or visit berkshirebpw.org for membership information.