Minerva was created in 1991 by three members of AAUW – Gig Harbor, Colonel Sybil Mercer, Colonel Florence Casey, and Ruth Taylor.  Created for the purpose of providing scholarships to women from the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula areas who are returning to school after a break in enrollment, it is now a stand-alone separate organization, with its own 501c3 status.

Colonel Mercer, an Army nurse and hospital administrator, felt that her career advanced because she was able to earn a Master’s Degree.  When she inherited $5,000 from an uncle, she asked Colonel Casey, a Ph.D. economist, and Ms. Taylor, a local school librarian, to also donate $5,000 each.  They agreed on the provision that the AAUW branch would match the funds.  The branch readily accepted the challenge, and the original $30,000 endowment was created.

Many others from Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula have generously donated for more than 20 years.  Minerva has now grown large enough that scholarships are endowed, which means the capital in the fund remains undisturbed.

While Minerva now grants approximately 11 scholarships of $1,000 or more each year, only one of them is endowed by the AAUW – Gig Harbor branch.  Several AAUW-GH members continue to serve on the Minerva Board of Directors.  AAUW Gig Harbor also offers student memberships to each recipient and welcomes them at all our branch activities.

The 2016 recipient of the AAUW-GH endowed scholarship is Melody Griggs, who is completing a MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Western Colorado.

Women return to school for many reasons.  Whether it’s to earn a first degree, another or advanced degree, or the credentials to enter or advance in the workforce, they often find it to be a financial challenge.  AAUW-GH is always working to sustain and build its endowment so that grants can be larger, or more of them can be awarded.