(Photo courtesy of Alverno College)

The Hank and Billye Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation is endowing a scholarship at Alverno College, which will be awarded to Milwaukee-area African American women with high academic achievement. The 4 for 4 Scholarship is designed to encourage women who are chasing their dream of pursuing careers in public service, social work, education and allied health programs, among others, and the funds may be used for tuition, room, board, fees, books, insurance and other required academic expenses.

The $4,000 scholarship will be given annually and may be awarded to a first-year, returning or non-traditional student. The scholarship will be awarded based on the following criteria:

• The student must be African American.
• She must be a resident of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington or Ozaukee counties.
• The student must have demonstrated financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
• She must be enrolled and in good academic standing

Preference will be given to students who participated in the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Fund program through the Boys & Girls Clubs; who are from underserved backgrounds and who seek to improve the educational, social and cultural programs and opportunities available to them (priority will be given to students eligible for Pell Grants); and who intend to pursue careers in public service, social work, education and allied health programs.

“We want a college education to be possible for all young women, and this scholarship will create opportunities for students for years to come,” said Scott Zeman, Ph.D., vice president of Academic Affairs. “This is an exciting opportunity for us to continue to carry out our mission of empowering women.”

Alverno double alumna Cecelia Gore, a member of the college’s Board of Trustees and the executive director of the Brewers Communication Foundation, was instrumental in securing the funds for the scholarship.

“Without Cecelia’s dedication to the college and her efforts on our behalf, this scholarship wouldn’t be possible,” Zeman said. “We are deeply grateful for her continued commitment to our students.”

To honor the achievements of Alverno students and alumnae and their commitment to the community, Gore and the college are hosting an event on Oct. 22, Rise Together: An Evening to Celebrate Alverno’s Women of Color. The event will include special recognition of the Aarons, as well as a panel. Panelists include Gore; Tammy Belton-Davis ’93, founder and principal of Athena Communications; Melissa Goins, Alverno graduate student and founder and president of the Maures Development Group LLC; and Barbara Wyatt Sibley ’82, retired executive and member of Alverno’s Board of Trustees.

The event is open to the public. For ticket information, visit alverno.edu/risetogether.

About Alverno College

Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology and business are open to women and men.

A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.

Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.