Racine Women in STEM Scholarship

The Racine Women in STEM Scholarship was established by Shirley Miller Carpenter, an educator with 35 years of experience teaching middle school math and science. Through her education and career experience, Shirley developed a strong belief in the power of education and in the potential of every individual. She understands that students face many challenges in seeking a college degree. To that end, she established this scholarship to encourage students from her hometown to believe in themselves, imagine possibilities, and work toward making those possibilities into a reality. Shirley attended Syracuse Elementary and Racine High schools, taking college prep classes despite not knowing how she would afford tuition. After graduation, she moved to Columbus and worked full-time for two years before enrolling at The Ohio State University. Even as a full-time student, she worked part-time until completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Education, and later earned a Master of Arts degree in that field. As a teacher, Shirley introduced thousands of students to exciting advancements in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Her appreciation for the impact of her education in her own life helped her inspire students to believe in their own potential. The scholarship is specifically intended to assist young women as they seek degrees in STEM fields, because women have long been underrepresented in these exciting fields. The award provides $2,000 payable over four years at $500 per academic year to support female graduates of Southern Jr./Sr. High School in Meigs County, Ohio who are pursuing STEM degrees at public, state-supported colleges or universities in Ohio.