Sisters of Ivy Educational Foundation along with Xi Upsilon Omega Chapter offer several scholarships to high school seniors to further their educational opportunities. It is the chapter’s goal to promote post-secondary educational endeavors. Scholarships will be awarded to students in the city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Westmoreland. All schools may apply who meet the scholarship qualifications.
Maude B. Murchison
The Maude B. Murchison scholarship is a $500 to $1,000 scholarship offered to outstanding female high school seniors in need of financial assistance. Open to qualified students attending all accredited colleges and universities, special consideration is given to applicants attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Xi Upsilon Omega Chapter has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to college-bound freshmen.
To qualify, the student must:
- Be a female graduating senior accepted at an accredited four-year college, university, or community college with the intention of transferring to a four-year college or university.
- Have a 2.5 or better grade point average.
- Should exhibit outstanding leadership skills.
- Should contribute notable community service.
- Should have a financial need.
Maxine M. Newell Scholarship
The Maxine M. Newell scholarship is a $500 to $1,000 scholarship offered to outstanding female high school seniors in need of financial assistance. Open to qualified students attending all accredited colleges and universities, special consideration is given to applicants attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). To date, Xi Upsilon Omega has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to college-bound freshmen.
To qualify, the student must:
- Be a female graduating senior accepted at an accredited four-year college, university, or community college with the intention of transferring to a four-year college or university.
- Have a 2.5 or better grade point average.
- Should exhibit outstanding leadership skills.
- Should contribute notable community service.
- Should have a financial need.
- Be pursuing a degree in a field that will benefit children.
Sophia Hatch Scholarship
In 2009, Mrs. Ruth Fitzgerald, an area philanthropist, donated a monetary gift to the Sisters of Ivy Educational Foundation, Inc. to be used to assist the financial needs of female college students who experienced a “break” in their college attendance because of unforeseen circumstances. The Foundation established an academic scholarship in the name of Mrs. Sophia Hatch, a notable teacher who taught African American students in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Pearl Smith – Gladys West Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Scholarship
Our Pearl Smith – Gladys West HBCU Scholarship was initiated in 2022. The purpose is two-fold. First, it supports HBCUs and second, it supports students in our service area who attend HBCUs. The scholarship is in honor of two of our chapter members who were both brilliant mathematicians and graduates of an HBCU, Virginia State University. Dr. Gladys West is also known worldwide for the Global Positioning System (GPS) we use today. She did the mathematical calculations which was the groundwork for the development of the GPS. She was inducted into the Air Force Missile and Space Pioneers Hall of Fame and has received numerous other recognitions for her work. We are pleased to present the Pearl Smith - Gladys West HBCU Scholarship.
The 2025 scholarship application is available for all Xi Upsilon Omega Chapter scholarships. Review the cover letter for instructions. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 20, 2025. Please submit applications, via email to scholarship@xiupsilonomega.com.
