Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leaders Scholarship
YWCA empowers young women through the Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leaders Scholarship, honoring Mrs. Beckwith’s dedication to education and equality.
Mrs. Beckwith, a pioneering figure in civil rights, was the first African American employed at the Olin-Matheson Corporation, and the YWCA SWIL and dedicated her life to community service. The scholarship, established in 1991, supports high school senior girls in pursuing higher education, focusing on leadership, volunteerism, and academic achievements aligned with the YWCA’s mission. As a result of her lifetime of activism, Mrs. Beckwith was named a YWCA Woman of Distinction in 2002.
Join us in fostering Mrs. Beckwith's spirit of volunteering and community involvement. Be part of a legacy that transcends education—apply now and shape a future of empowerment!
Josephine Marley Beckwith
Scholarship Applications
Open to young women attending high school in Madison County
Must have completed at least seven semesters of high school courses
$1,000 renewable scholarship (up to 4 years)
The application period is now closed for 2025.
Your donation directly impacts the lives of deserving young women, enabling them to pursue their dreams and become future leaders in our community.
Join us in making a difference!
Please watch this brief video on the history of the JMBFL Scholarship
In 2023, Isabella Hall and Emma Smith were the most recent recipients of the JMBFL scholarship. Isabella Hall attended Alton High School and was part of organizations such as National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, Pathway to Woman Hood, and Art Club. She maintained a 4.64 GPA while taking a full roster of honors and AP courses. She is now studying at Lewis and Clark Community College.
Emma Smith attended Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto and was active in organizations such as National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, and Illinois State Scholars. Emma was elected student council president and class president all four years while maintaining a 4.98 GPA. She is now studying at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Tristan Johnson, Guadalupe Calixto, Samantha Evanoff, and Taryn Geiger saw their journeys extended with renewed scholarships in 2023. Tristan Johnson is currently a senior majoring in Political Science & Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina. Guadalupe Calixto is currently attending Saint Louis University majoring in Biochemistry on the Bachelor of Science track to pursue scientific research. Samantha Evanoff is a Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology major at Washington University in St. Louis with a minor in French and Biology. Taryn Geiger is studying Psychology and Biology at the University of Alabama pre-medical track.
Click here to learn all about our JMBFL Scholars from 2025.