Laura Fuoss Memorial Grant
Scholarship Sponsored by American Association of University Women Inc
Each spring the Morton Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) reviews applications for the Laura Fuoss Memorial Scholarship, a grant named to honor a founding member and longtime leader of the branch.
About Laura Fuoss Laura Fuoss was one of the Morton AAUW branch’s charter members in 1975 and served on its board in several capacities, including President. A third-grade teacher in Marquette Heights, she was known for encouraging others to pursue higher goals. Laura died of cancer in November 1983. In the months after her passing, friends and colleagues made memorial contributions to AAUW; those gifts were used to support the branch scholarship, and in December 1983 the award was officially named the Laura Fuoss Memorial Scholarship.
History and purpose of the scholarship The scholarship program began in 1978 to help women continue their education beyond the bachelor’s degree. Since its founding, recipients have pursued advanced study in many fields, including law, medicine, business, psychology, education, nursing, veterinary medicine, and music, among others.
Award amount and eligibility The Laura Fuoss Memorial Scholarship provides $1,000 to a qualified applicant. Eligibility requirements are:
- Applicant identifies as a woman.
- Applicant is either a current resident of the Morton School District, a graduate of Morton High School, employed in Morton, or a member of the Morton AAUW Branch.
- Applicant has already earned a bachelor’s degree and is either entering or currently enrolled, in good academic standing, in a graduate degree program or an advanced certification program at an accredited university.
Endowment and giving In 2024 the Morton AAUW established an endowed scholarship fund at the Morton Community Foundation to preserve the award for future years. The fund accepts donations from anyone, and contributions can be made online.
Go to Scholarship Application