WRAC administers or helps to administer a number of scholarships and awards on campus, including the Jean Y. Jew Women’s Rights Award and the Margaret C. Benson Scholarship.

The Jean Y. Jew Women’s Rights Award

Nomination Deadline: February 12, 2024

The Women's Resource & Action Center and the Council on the Status of Women are accepting nominations for the 2024 Jean Y. Jew Women's Rights Award. The award, given annually by the Council on the Status of Women and the Women's Resource and Action Center, honors a faculty, staff, or student member of the University community who has demonstrated outstanding effort or achievement in improving the status of women at the University.

The award will be granted at the Annual Celebration of Excellence and Achievement Among Women on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

  • Some of the previous Jean Y. Jew Women's Rights Award Recipients include:
  • Susan Buckley, Pre-Vocational Training
  • Rusty Barceló, Office of the Provost
  • Nancy Hauserman, Management & Organizations
  • Clara Oleson, UI Labor Center
  • Yvonne "Bonnie" Slatton, Sport, Health, Leisure and Physical Studies
  • Christine H. B. Grant, Women's Athletics
  • Susan R. Johnson, College of Medicine
  • Jean Martin, Motor Vehicle Maintenance Service
  • Susan Beckett, Engineering Computer Network
  • Pat Cain, College of Law
  • Chris Brus, WISE
  • Rachel Zuckerman, UISG
  • Susan Birrell, GWSS
  • Susan Junis, RVAP

Criteria

Candidates should have a strong record of support for women's rights in a broad sense, a commitment to women's rights at The University of Iowa, and one or more of the following related to women's rights:

  • Particular contributions to The University of Iowa
  • Long-standing record of leadership, effort, and activism.
  • Accomplishments with national scope or impact 

Jean Jew Award Application


The Margaret P. Benson Memorial Scholarship

Application Deadline: March 11, 2024

Created by a bequest from Margaret P. Benson, the Margaret P. Benson Memorial Scholarship recognizes qualified women applicants who demonstrate financial need and are committed to gender equity/issues impacting women, diversity, and social activism.

Two awards are available. Awards of $2,500 per academic year to be applied toward tuition, fees, living expenses, or books. The scholarship is for the 2024-25 academic year.

The Margaret P. Benson Memorial Scholarship is administered and selected by individuals affiliated with the Women’s Resource and Action Center at the University of Iowa. The Center’s mission is to create greater equity for individuals and communities of all identities, with a particular focus on women.

Eligibility

Women students (domestic or international) in any field of study who have completed one year (or more) of undergraduate or graduate/professional study at the University of Iowa or at an accredited degree granting institution or program and have been accepted into a degree-granting program at the University of Iowa for the upcoming academic year.

Policies

  1. Scholarships are awarded for one academic year only. Re-application is required for each academic year for which financial assistance is sought. No preference will be given to those individuals seeking a second or third year of support.
  2. If a scholarship recipient does not attend school or drops out while the award is in effect, funds must be returned commensurate with the amount of the academic year remaining.

Application process

  1. Complete and submit the application form.
  2. Submit college transcript(s). (official or unofficial)
  3. Submit 1 letters of reference.
  4. Demonstrate financial need on the FAFSA for the current academic year by submitting a copy of the financial aid award letter AND/OR provide a ONE-page description of any personal or financial circumstances warranting consideration by the selection committee
  5. Note: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all materials (including transcripts and letters of reference) are received at WRAC by the application deadline: March 11, 2024.

Submit application to:

Benson Scholarship Application