Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Stephens College is proud to partner with Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) through their AdvanceHER™ Leadership Program, creating expanded pathways to higher education and leadership development for Girl Scouts and staff across eastern Missouri.
This collaboration reflects a commitment to empowering young women through education, mentorship, and holistic student support designed to help them thrive both academically and personally.
A Shared Vision for Women’s Leadership
At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief that every young woman deserves access to opportunity, guidance, and resources that help her confidently pursue her future. Through this initiative, Stephens College and GSEM are investing in the next generation of leaders by creating meaningful pathways to higher education while fostering belonging, persistence, and degree attainment for Girl Scouts participating in the AdvanceHER™ Leadership Program.
Comprehensive Student Support
The partnership provides comprehensive support for eligible GSEM students enrolling at Stephens College, including:
- No application fee
- Dedicated admissions support
- FAFSA and financial aid assistance
- Personalized campus visit opportunities
- Academic advising
- Ongoing student success resources
Scholarship Opportunities
Stephens College offers two scholarship opportunities exclusively for GSEM students:
- Renewable $2,500 Scholarship for eligible students
- Two Renewable $5,000 Leadership Scholarships recognizing exceptional academic achievement and leadership potential
These scholarships may be stacked with merit-based aid, providing even greater financial support.
This partnership also extends opportunities to GSEM staff members pursuing undergraduate enrollment, reinforcing both organizations’ mutual commitment to leadership development and educational access at every level.
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the GSEM scholarship opportunity, students must:
- Plan to enroll full-time at Stephens College
- Have a minimum of 3.7 high school GPA
- Be an active member of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Application Requirements
To apply for the scholarship, please email the following to admissions@stephens.edu:
- Résumé (including leadership roles, service projects, awards, etc.)
- Leadership Essay (instructions below):
- Think about a moment when you worked to make something better—whether for your school, your family, your community, a team, or a cause you care about. In 600–900 words, tell the story of this experience and explain how you demonstrated leadership. Consider how you identified a need, brought people together, navigated challenges, or made decisions that reflected your values.
- Finally, reflect on your leadership potential: What kind of difference do you hope to make in the future? How do your experiences so far prepare you to contribute to a campus community, pursue your goals, and lead with purpose?
- Recommendation from Girl Scout Leader
Beyond Financial Aid
Beyond financial support, Stephens College provides comprehensive student success services, including access to the Student Success Center, individualized academic advising, and ongoing mentorship to help students persist through graduation.
At Stephens College, we’ve spent nearly two centuries proving what’s possible when young women are met with belief, resources, and a community built around their success. This partnership with Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is a natural extension of that mission.
Dr. Shannon B. Lundeen, Stephens College President
About AdvanceHER™
The AdvanceHER™ Leadership Program is an innovative initiative at Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri focused on preparing girls for college, career, and life through mentorship, scholarship access, workforce readiness, and leadership development opportunities. Through partnerships like this, GSEM continues to invest in the future of girls across eastern Missouri by creating clear pathways to achievement, belonging, and lifelong success.