For many students, scholarships are something you think about senior year in high school. For Gail De Mello, scholarships became important only after her own kids had grown up and moved out. An award she learned about through FastWeb paved the way to a college degree and a new professional future.

Following a Dream

For the first 30 years of her professional life, Gail had been a bank bill collector. She liked her job, but it required an inconvenient trek from her mountainous hometown in Ruth, California. Once her husband retired, she decided it was time to follow her dream. She would shift professional gears by going back to college and pursue a degree in social work.

Choosing a major was easy for Gail. “I’ve always liked helping people.” Gail’s history of helping included raising three stepchildren and two foster children as well as participating in the California Grange, a nonprofit community service organization. Because there was a clinic and school near her home, the social work program at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, was a natural decision.

Reaping What You Sow

Gail soon discovered that her commitment to helping others would help her fund her way through college as well. Through a scholarship search on FastWeb, she learned about the George and Elizabeth Sehlmeyer Scholarship, an award for members of the California Grange. After checking the requirements, she decided to apply.

The award was a natural match for Gail. “We look at the overall student,” says Naomi Fletcher, the State Master of the California Grange. “Students are asked to submit a letter of intent, letters of recommendation, examples of community involvement and extracurricular activities. There is no age limitation,” Fletcher says.

Gail submitted her application, including information about all of her past experiences and her future goals. As one of the three annual winners, she received a scholarship of $2000 that is renewable up to four years.

As she works toward her bachelor’s degree in social work at Humboldt State University, Gail proves the value of continuing education and the scholarships that make it possible.

If you’re a member of the California Grange and would like to learn more about the scholarships available for members, write to:

California Grange Foundation Scholarship Committee
2101 Stockton Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95817-1336

Author: Roxana Hadad, Fastweb