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Applicant Requirements

  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Currently pursuing or enrolled to pursue post-secondary education, including certification programs, associate degrees, or bachelor’s degrees, and have not previously completed a post-secondary program.
  • Have a financial need as indicated by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC or EPC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) letter.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5.
  • Participate in an interview process if the application is selected.

Scholarship Information

  • Recipients awarded the scholarship in June will be eligible to utilize the funds for child care in August of 2025.
  • Recipients will receive child care funding while attending any semester between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026.
  • Recipients will be eligible to reapply annually but will be eligible for no more than a total of five (5) years of scholarship support.
  • Recipients will be awarded a scholarship based on the number of enrolled credit hours.

Application Instructions

Please use the form at the bottom of this page to submit the following to United Way no later than May 20, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact United Way Greater Houston at womenwhorockscholarship@unitedwayhouston.org.

  • Completed application
  • An essay explaining your post-secondary goals, the reason(s) you are requesting the scholarship, and how, if awarded, the scholarship will help you achieve your goals.
  • A recent photo
  • Proof of current education status: most recent official post-secondary program transcript, post-secondary education program acceptance letter, high school diploma, high school equivalency certificate, or documentation
  • Copy of EFC or EPC, i.e., the page from FAFSA confirmation
  • Your resume (optional)
  • Two letters of reference, with at least one from a teacher or employer, not a relative or friend

We encourage you to enroll your child(ren) in a National Association for the Education of Young Children-accredited center or Texas Rising Star Center (3 or 4 Star). A quality child care center will provide:

  • Developmentally Appropriate Practices – includes materials, curricula, activities, and staff expectations of children’s behavior that are appropriate and support the child’s development.
  • Structural Quality – characteristics that include staff-to-child ratio, group size, staff education and experience, and square feet of facility per child.
  • Accreditation – programs voluntarily meet specific standards to receive endorsement from a professional agency.
  • License – a document issued by the State Department to a person, a group of people, or a corporation that has met the state minimum standards for childcare, which allows them to legally operate a child care program.