Saint Louis University Offers Scholarship Opportunity to Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s ADVANCE HER Leadership Movement Program
03/07/2025
ST. LOUIS – The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Saint Louis University (SLU) to provide a new scholarship opportunity for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri who wish to pursue higher education as part of the Advance HER Leadership program.
Starting in fall 2026, the scholarship program will provide opportunities for GSEM Girl Scout high school graduates who enroll at SLU to receive a minimum of a $30,000 renewable scholarship. This is GSEM’s fifth collegial partnership and largest scholarship opportunity to date available through the Girl Scouts’ newly implemented ADVANCE HER Leadership Movement Program to promote academic and professional development to succeed in college and beyond.
Representatives from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and SLU signed a partnership agreement to provide a new scholarship opportunity for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri who wish to pursue higher education as part of the Advance HER Leadership program. GSEM photo.
To be eligible for the GSEM-SLU renewable scholarship award, students must:
- Meet SLU’s admission standards
- Maintain full-time student status (completion of at least 24 credit hours annually)
- Maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA or higher
- Must enroll the same year they complete high school
As part of this scholarship, SLU will provide personalized campus visit days, FAFSA workshops, and holistic support from academic advisors. Qualifying Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri will also have access to SLU’s EXPeriential Learning Program to sharpen their 21st-century skills. GSEM and SLU will collaborate closely to monitor participating students’ academic performance, ensuring they receive the support needed to complete their degree.
"Saint Louis University's generous commitment to the largest scholarship in the history of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s newly implemented ADVANCE HER Leadership Movement Program is nothing short of transformative,” said Natissia Small, Ed.D., GSEM CEO. “This unprecedented support not only opens doors for young women to pursue higher education but also dismantles barriers, creating opportunity and access to pursue and achieve degree completion. We are committed to empowering girls by equipping them with the essential tools, self-assurance, and powerful abilities they need to excel and lead with impact in today’s workforce. By investing in Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, SLU is helping to develop the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation and social mobility within our communities.”
The agreement represents an opportunity for Saint Louis University to help young women achieve their academic and career goals.
“We are so pleased to announce these scholarships to support Girl Scouts who are pursuing their degrees at Saint Louis University,” said Robert Reddy, interim vice president of enrollment management. “SLU’s Jesuit mission calls us to educate the whole person and serve humanity, values which align closely with those of the Girl Scouts.
“We know that Girl Scouts are poised to make a positive difference in the world, and Saint Louis University is committed to helping these leaders thrive.”
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is committed to promoting post-secondary planning to support the interests of all girls served, and create innovative and relevant opportunities that complement the mission of Girl Scouting for all girls.
About Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscoutsem.org
About Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.
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