Education Awards

The FAWCO Foundation Education Awards Program was created by and for FAWCO and FAUSA members. The cornerstones of the program are the importance of fostering peace through knowledge and the belief that education is essential to developing peace-loving attitudes in children. The Program rewards and honors academic excellence and the all-around achievements of our members and their families.
If you are a member of a FAWCO Club, FAUSA or an Individual Member these awards are for you and your family!
Please read before proceeding...
- This year, we are happy to offer one new award in celebration of Literacy is our Legacy.
- Each Education Award application is available as an online form this year. Please read all instructions before filling out your application.
- ALL DG & EA APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR REQUIRE A PASSWORD! This can be found in the latest issue of the Foundation NEWS, in one of the private FAWCO member Facebook groups, or on request by emailing Christine R., VP Programs.
2026 Education Awards Slate
There are 13 Education Awards offered for 2026.
These include awards for members as well as our member’s children and grandchildren.
The diversity is a result of our generous sponsors and the greater FAWCO community that donate both large and small to our programs. There is a total of up to $62,500 to be awarded.
Academic, Non-University, Dual Cultural, & Open Learning Awards
These 7 awards are in support of the educational endeavors of the children and grandchildren of our FAWCO family. There is a total value of $35,000 to be awarded.
- 4 Academic Awards for member’s children: 1 Arts, 2 Sciences, 1 Humanities
- 1 Non-University and Technical Training Award for a member’s child
- 1 Dual Cultural for a member’s child or grandchild
- 1 Open Learning for a member’s grandchild
Arts Award - $5,000
sponsored by AWC The Hague in honor of Georgia Regnault's birthday
- For undergraduate or graduate study in the history, theory and/or practice of the performing arts, visual arts, film and media arts, architecture or graphic arts.
- APPLY FOR THE ARTS AWARD
Sciences Award - $5,000
sponsored in part by AIWC Genoa and the Bacigalupo Family, in memory of Dr. Frieda Bacigalupo Natali
- For undergraduate or graduate study in any area of science; e.g. biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics and medicine.
- APPLY FOR THE SCIENCES AWARD
Women in STEM - $5,000
sponsored by The FAWCO Foundation*
- For the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, including the study of medicine, chemistry, computer and information technology science, engineering, geosciences, life sciences, mathematical sciences, physics and astronomy for women and individuals who identify as women.
- APPLY FOR THE WOMEN IN STEM AWARD
Humanities Award - $5,000
sponsored in part by AAWE Paris, in memory of Gertrude de Gallaix
- For undergraduate or graduate study in fields including, but not limited to, education, law, social studies, history and languages.
- APPLY FOR THE HUMANITIES AWARD
Non-University and Technical Training Award - $5,000
sponsored by Whitney Edwards AWC London, in memory of Dr. John H. Hoagland & Carolyn Hoagland
- For an individual enrolled in a training program or a course of study at a trade school, either of which will conclude with a vocational certification.
- APPLY FOR THE NON-UNIVERSITY AND TECHNICAL TRAINING AWARD
Dual Cultural Award - $5,000
sponsored in part by AWC Bern in honor of Donna Erismann
- This award may be used to attend a semester or year of American high school or an academic or structured educational summer program in the United States.
- APPLY FOR THE DUAL CULTURAL AWARD
Open Learning Jackie Isler Memorial Award - $5,000
- For a FAWCO or FAUSA member's grandchild to study in any post secondary school education program which results in a certificate, diploma or degree.
- Study can be University or Tertiary education.
- APPLY FOR THE OPEN LEARNING AWARD
FAWCO Member Awards
These 6 awards recognize the diverse lives of our members, their achievements, and their never-ending quest for knowledge and self-improvement. There is a total of up to $27,500 to be awarded.
Shirley Kearney AWC Basel University Study Degree Award - $5,000
- For continuing or resuming studies in an undergraduate or graduate level university degree program.
- These programs can lead to qualifications like master's degrees (MSc, MA), doctorates (PhD), or postgraduate certificates and diplomas.
- APPLY FOR THE SHIRLEY KEARNEY AWARD
FAUSA Skills Enhancement Award - $5,000
partially funded with donations in memory of Janelle Mason
- For acquiring new skills or enhancing already existing ones which will allow a FAWCO or FAUSA member to become more capable, competent and confident by acquiring the skills to improve performance in any given field.
- APPLY FOR THE FAUSA SKILLS ENHANCEMENT AWARD
Skills Enhancement Award - $2,500
sponsored by the FAWCO Foundation
- For acquiring new skills or enhancing already existing ones which will allow a FAWCO or FAUSA member to become more capable, competent and confident by acquiring the skills to improve performance in any given field.
- APPLY FOR THE SKILLS ENHANCEMENT (FAWCO FOUNDATION) AWARD
Fine Arts Award - $5,000
sponsored by AIWC Frankfurt, Taurus, Rhein-Main, in memory of Barbara Merlino
- To foster artistic expression and skill development for FAWCO or FAUSA members, enabling them to express themselves through various art forms, including but not limited to dance, digital art, drawing, mixed media, music, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.
- The recipient is encouraged to use the funds to further their artistic journey and development in at least two or more of the following ways: education and training; artistic projects; professional development opportunities; materials and equipment that will support project development(s) and artistic growth.
- Note: Recipient cannot allocate the entire award solely to the purchase of materials and equipment.
- APPLY FOR THE FINE ARTS AWARD
Continuing Education Award - $5,000
sponsored by Mary Stewart Burgher of AWC Denmark, in memory of Pauline "Pete" Arnold Schweppe
- For a FAWCO or FAUSA member to further their education at university or an equivalent level through courses, workshops, and certificate programs. Subjects can encompass all areas of interest—inter alia, journalism, writing, arts, philanthropy as well as the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including medicine.
- APPLY FOR THE CONTINUING EDUCATION AWARD
**NEW** The de Groot Foundation Literacy is our Legacy Aspiring Writers Award - $5,000
-
- This award is open to writers who are members of a FAWCO or FAUSA club and have a clearly defined writing project in progress—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or experimental. Aspiring FAWCO/FAUSA writers, whether published or unpublished, are eligible.
- The award recipient is encouraged to use the award funds to advance their writing in meaningful ways. Eligible uses may include, but are not limited to: participation in writing workshops, classes or seminars, editing, developmental editing, mentoring, manuscript review, archival or field research, writing accountability programs, writing coaching, attendance at a writers’ retreat or the creation of a self-directed retreat.
- APPLY FOR THE LITERACY IS OUR LEGACY AWARD
*These awards are sponsored by the ongoing generosity of our members.
Timeline
Autumn
Starting from mid-October
The next year's Awards are announced! Choose the Award best suited for your needs.
Review the applicable form, check what information you need, and begin gathering your documents and transcripts. These might take longer than you think!
Ask two individuals to write letters of recommendation for you. If letters of recommendation are not a tradition in the country where you live, please give these people an idea of what is to be included in a letter of recommendation.
Begin writing your two essays. This will give you plenty of time to edit and proofread them.
Autumn
Winter
Gather your information, finish (and review) your essays, and complete your application. Don't forget to have it proof read!
Deadline for submissions January 27th
Goodluck!
Spring
Results are announced at the annaul FAWCO Biennial Conference (or Interim Meeting) in March and are published to our website shortly thereafter.
If your received an Award, congratulations! If not, be sure to apply again in the next cycle.
Spring
Summer
Interested in applying for the next cycle?
Review your eligibility requirements and familiarize yourself with the past Awards to be ready for the fall!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Foundation Awards Program is open to all FAWCO, FAUSA members and their children, regardless of nationality, and regardless of whether or not the affiliated Club has made a contribution to The Foundation’s programs. The Dual Cultural Award is also available to members' grandchildren.
For Member Awards the applicant must be a FAWCO or FAUSA member in good standing for a minimum of 12 months as of application deadline. Please note: If the Member has transferred from one FAWCO Club to another Club or to FAUSA, or been accepted as a FAWCO Individual Member with an interruption of less than three months, the applicant will be considered as having met the time requirement.
For Academic and Non-University Awards, the applicant must have a parent who is a member in good standing of FAWCO or FAUSA. The parent must have been a member for a minimum of 12 months as of application deadline. They must be between the ages of 16 and 27 at the application deadline date and have at least one full academic year remaining in their studies.
For the Open Learning Award the applicant must have a grandparent who is a member in good standing of FAWCO or FAUSA. The grandparent must have been a member for a minimum of 12 months as of application deadline. They must be between the ages of 16 and 27 at the application deadline date and have at least one full academic year remaining in their studies.
For the Dual Cultural Award the applicant be between the ages of 13 and 18 at the application deadline date, have lived outside the U.S. for at least the last six years and must be in possession of a U.S. passport, have one parent who is a U.S. citizen and one parent who is a non-U.S. citizen, be the child/grandchild of a FAWCO or FAUSA member. The parent/grandparent must have been a member in good standing for at least 12 months at the application deadline and have not previously received a Dual Cultural Award.
*Members (and the children/grandchildren) of the Board of Directors of FAWCO, The FAWCO Foundation and FAUSA are not eligible for Education Awards.