TIGER Scholarship
The GFWC Tampa Women of Change is proud to present The Ralph F. Schiller “TIGER” scholarship to our community. TJWC was organized in 1935 as a part of the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs (GFWC), one of the largest volunteer organizations in the world. GFWC is responsible for founding 75% of this nation’s libraries, and education is one of the six major emphasis areas of the organization.
Many individuals have a dream of going to college and continuing their education, however, with the rising costs of higher education; many cannot afford this luxury. The Individual Growth in Education Recipient Scholarship or T.I.G.E.R was created in 1999 in memory of Ralph F. Schiller. In 1926 his father abandoned the family and his mother realized that she could not handle the responsibility of 5 children alone. She dropped off the children ranging in age from nine months to nine years old at the local orphanage. Being the oldest, Ralph was determined that his family would not be torn apart by these circumstances. He saved his food from his first meal, gathered up his four brothers and sisters and ran away to his grandparents’ home. His grandparents raised all five children as if they were their own. Because Ralph had made this decision, he also took on responsibility. He began a paper route before school and worked as a bag boy at the local grocery store after school. As his siblings grew Ralph saw that expenses were growing as well, so at 16 he dropped out of high school and joined the Army Air Corps.
Ralph had a successful career in the military. He served as a member of the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers, World War II, Korea and was an adviser during the Vietnam War. Throughout this time his goal was to eventually return to school to complete his education. In February 1962 he learned that he would soon be a father. He began to plan his dreams and realized that with a limited education he would have a difficult time helping his child to do simple homework. With this realization, he went back to high school and earned his diploma. He then applied to Merced College, California, began the curriculum, and in 1972 received his college degree. All at the age of 44.
The goal of this scholarship is to provide assistance for continuing education to a Tampa Bay Area Woman.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP:
Recipients need to be a woman going to school for the first time or back to school; they must fill out the application form, and a personal statement regarding their dedication to education and how going to school will change their life for the better.
AWARD DATE:
Scholarship applications are due on or before June 15th every year. The applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship committee of the GFWC Tampa Junior Woman’s Club and the recipients will be notified by June 30th.