National Association of University Women
Flushing -North Shore Branch
"Progressive Women Remaining Relevant in a Global Society"
Leadership
2018 NAUW Flushing North Shore Branch
Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman
College Scholarship Application
Who is Ms. Coleman?
"Bessie Coleman was born into a large family in Atlanta, Texas, on January 26, 1892, the tenth of thirteen children. Her early childhood was a happy one, spent playing in the front yard or on the porch. Bessie saved her money and in 1910 took her savings and enrolled in the Colored Agricultural and Normal University in Langston, Oklahoma. Bessie completed only one term before she ran out of money and was forced to return to Waxahachie, Texas. It was with high hopes that Bessie escaped the oppressive Jim Crow south and headed to Chicago. Taking her cue from brother John's teasing remarks about French women flying and having careers, Bessie decided she would become a flier. Bessie's yearning to "amount to something" was now a driving force in her goal to become a pilot. Having secured funding from several sources and receiving a passport with English and French visas, Bessie departed for France in November of 1920. She completed in seven months, a ten-month course at the Ecole d'Aviation des Freres Caudon at Le Crotoy in the Somme. Learning to fly in a French Nieuport Type 82, Bessie's schooling included "tail spins, banking and looping the loop." She received her pilot's license from the renowned Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) on June 15, 1921.
Her first appearance was in an air show on September 3,1922 at Curtiss Field near New York City. Using borrowed planes Bessie continued exhibition flying and occasional parachute jumping. As she had often done in other U.S. locations, Bessie refused to perform unless the audiences were desegregated. Sadly, Coleman took her tragic last flight on April 30, 1926, in Jacksonville, Florida when she and her mechanic took the plane up for a test flight. Once aloft, the plane malfunctioned and
the mechanic lost control of the plane. Sadly, both Bessie and her mechanic perished in the crash. About 10,000 mourners paid their last respects to the first African American woman aviator, filing past her coffin in Chicago South's Side.
Her dream of a flying school for African Americans became a reality when William J. Powell established the Bessie Coleman Aero Club in Los Angeles, California in 1929. As a result of being affiliated, educated or inspired directly or indirectly, by the Bessie Coleman Aero Club, flyers like the Five Blackbirds, the Flying Hobos (James Banning and Thomas Allen), the Tuskegee Airmen, Cornelius Coffey, John Robison, Willa Brown and Harold Hurd continued to make Bessie Coleman's dream a reality. Coleman has not been forgotten in the decades since her death. Since 1931, black pilots from Chicago instituted an annual fly over her grave. In 1977, a group of African American women pilots established the Bessie Coleman Aviators Club and in 1992, a Chicago City Council Resolution requested that the U.S. Postal Service issue a Bessie Coleman stamp. The resolution noted that "Bessie Coleman continues to inspire untold thousands, even millions of young persons with her sense of adventure, her positive attitude, and her determination to succeed."
Biography retrieved from: http:// www.bessiecoleman.com
The National Association of University Women (NAUW) - Flushing North Shore Branch seeks qualified and motivated individuals to apply for its inaugural 2018 Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman Scholarship award. The award is named in recognition of trailblazer and pioneer pilot Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman. Coleman was the first African American woman to earn a pilot license and the first person of African American descent to gain an international pilot license. This award encapsulates the unwavering spirit of a determined woman, destined to exceed the racial and gender barriers of her time. Please adhere to all instructions as you complete and submit your application.
All applicants must meet every criteria listed below:
Criteria #1
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Full Time Matriculated Student Sophomore or Junior level student attending Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
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US Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident
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African American or African descent
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GPA - Minimum C which is equivalent to a 70% GPA which is equivalent to a 2.0/4.0 GPA
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Document unpaid volunteer work.
Criteria #2
After pass the pre-screening process, application MUST appear for a personal interview dressed in business attire or the application will be automatically withdrawn from further consideration.
Criteria #3
Attend the 22nd Annual Scholarship Luncheon if awarded the scholarship.
ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THIS ELECTRONIC APPLICATION BY JANUARY 20, 2018
Required Items to Submit Electronically
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1 Completed and Electronically Signed Student Application
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Attach the following documents to the application
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1 Personal Statement (1000 words each)
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1 Official High School Transcript with Seal
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2 Letter of Recommendation Letter on Official Letter Head
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1 Passport Photo OR Yearbook Picture (in pdf or word document)
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For any more information, please contact us at NAUWFNSScholarship@Gmail.com.
If selected to receive a scholarship, the award announcements will be made at:
22nd ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON
Saturday May 5, 2018 @ 12pm
THEME: “UNMASKING THE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR SCHOLARS”
TERRACE ON THE PARK
52-11 111th Street
Flushing, New York 11368
Regards,
Scholarship Committee
Fill out the application PRIOR to deadline and click on the green "Submit Button" at the bottom of the page.
Parent Information
Employment or Volunteer Work ( list current or past opportunities)
Company/Organization / Postition
Location
Dates of Employment
Official Transcript w/ School Seal
1 Passport photo OR yearbook picture (in pdf or word document
STUDENT PERSONAL STATEMENT PAGE
SUBMIT A TYPED SINGLE SPACED 1000 WORD ESSAY
TIMES NEW ROMAN - 12 POINT FONT
PLACE YOUR NAME AT THE TOP OF EACH PAGE.
DIRECTIONS: ANSWER (1) ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
1.Describe a person (either a historical figure or a relative) or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
2. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, how did you overcome this failure, and what lessons did you learn? Was there someone that helped you overcome this failure and explain how they helped you? (NOTE: Growing and maturing is about learning from our failures).
3. Discuss an issue confronting our current educational system on a state, national, or international level and its specific importance to you. How has this issue impacted your decision to pursue higher education? How would you resolve this issue?
PROFESSOR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
STUDENT MUST SUBMIT A RECOMMENDATION LETTER FROM YOUR PROFESSOR. THIS LETTER MUST BE TYPED ON AN OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD WITH THE PROFESSOR’S SIGNATURE ON THE LETTER. PROFESSOR MAY BE CONTACTED BY A MEMBER OF THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REGARDING HIS/HER LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.
DIRECTIONS: The letter must attest to the applicant’s academic/educational abilities and accomplishments. Applicant CANNOT be related to person writing this letter of recommendation.
PERSONAL LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
STUDENT MUST SUBMIT A PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION LETTER FROM SOMEONE WHO CAN ATTEST TO YOUR CHARACTER, MOTIVATION, AND PROSPECT FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE SUCH AS A COACH, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, OR MENTOR. THIS LETTER MUST BE TYPED ON AN OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD AND SIGNED BY THE WRITER. RECCOMENDER MAY BE CONTACTED BY A MEMBER OF THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REGARDING HIS/HER LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.
DIRECTIONS: Writer must attest to the applicant’s personal character and commitment to unpaid volunteer service activities. Applicant CANNOT be related to person writing this letter of recommendation.
IMPORTANT: Once successfully clicking on the Submit your Submit Scholarship Application Button. You should see a Thank you for submitting your Scholarship Application page. If you do not receive this page some of the fields have not been populated in the application. Scroll up and place information in any fields highlighted in RED then click on the Click Here to Submit Scholarship Application Button.