Scholarship & Mentorship Program

Increasing post-secondary education and achieving economic security can have far-reaching, multi-generational benefits for families and communities. The Positive Paths Scholarship and Mentoring Program helps improve college completion for women, contributes to the growing demand for highly educated workers, and reduces public benefits spending. Positive Paths has distributed close to $500,000 in scholarship funds to more than 100 East Valley women who are pursuing post-secondary education and training. In addition to the distribution of scholarship funds, each woman selected for this program is provided with one-on-one mentoring. Mentors are professionals, often with experience in the chosen career path of the scholar with whom they are matched. Mentoring has proven to be a critical element of success for our scholars as it provides our women with opportunities to broaden their perspective, build social capital, navigate organizational politics more strategically, and develop their confidence. The online application for the Scholarship and Mentoring Program is generally open from March through May each year. We recommend that applicants read the Criteria for Eligibility and the Frequently Asked Questions documents to learn more about the program and the process for applying before starting the online application.

Professional Development

In addition to our signature Scholarship and Mentoring Program, Positive Paths provides workshops and events accessible to all East Valley women. These events provide networking opportunities with industry professionals and community leaders, while helping women attain the additional knowledge and skills necessary for personal and professional success. Topics that have been covered in past professional development events include developing a professional image that is appropriate for one’s career field, resume writing and interviewing, time management, financial planning, decision-making skills, speed mentoring, and more. Often these events provide information about academic and career-related connections and resources within our community. In short, we amplify the ability for women to obtain and maintain successful employment.