The Asian Women In Business Scholarship encourages and promotes exceptional Asian female students who have demonstrated scholarship, leadership, community service and/ or entrepreneurship. The AWIB Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to students who have the attributes to be our next generation of leaders.

ELIGIBILITY:
Candidates for the scholarship must be female of Asian (includes those who can trace their ancestry from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam) or Pacific Islander ancestry and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Candidates must also fulfill the following criteria to be considered:

• Have at least one or more of the following:
  a) demonstrated a leadership role in a community endeavor and/or b) a record of entrepreneurial achievement
• Enrolled full-time in an accredited four-year undergraduate institution in the U.S. at the time of application and award. Please be advised that this scholarship is for currently enrolled undergraduates who have completed at least one semester.
• Carry a minimum of 3.0 (out of 4.0) GPA at the time of application (H.S. credit/grades do not count towards this scholarship)
• Provide the most recent college transcript; semi-finalists will be required to provide their official college transcript
• Provide a minimum of one professional recommendation
• Fully complete and sign the AWIB Scholarship Application
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Additional $2,500 will be awarded to applicants (for a total of $5,000) for those who can demonstrate a financial need, by submitting a copy of the most current FAFSA form.

What is Asian Women in Business (AWIB)?
Founded in 1995, Asian Women In Business (AWIB) is the only non-profit, tax-exempt organization in the country with the primary mission of assisting Asian women entrepreneurs. Over the years, AWIB has expanded its mission to address identified needs and issues affecting the business and professional development of Asian Americans. AWIB also serves on various task forces and boards to promote the inclusion of minorities and women as business owners and as leaders in the corporate structure.

How is the AWIB Scholarship Fund being funded?
Funding is dependent on the generosity of individual and corporate donors. Donations to the Fund are fully tax-deductible under IRS Section 501(c)(3). Each scholarship will be $2,500. The donors for the 2013 cycle include BNY Mellon, Enterprise Holdings, and other generous individuals.

Who is eligible for the AWIB Scholarship?
Asian women who fulfill the following criteria will be considered:

1. Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry (includes those who can trace their ancestry from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam)
2. Enrolled full-time in an accredited 4-year undergraduate institution in the US, at the time of application and award
3. Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of application
4. Provide the most recent college transcript; semi-finalists will be asked to provide the most recent official transcript
5. U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
6. Have one or more of the following: (a) a leadership role in a community endeavor or (b) a record of entrepreneurial achievement (e.g. founded your own business)

Would I be eligible for the scholarship if I am part-Asian?
Yes. As long as you are at least 50% Asian and you meet all other eligibility criteria for the scholarship.

I will be a freshman at a university/college, do I qualify for the scholarship?
A college transcript showing at least a 3.0 GPA is required. If you are in your second semester/term, you will be able to provide the required transcript. Any kind of high school transcript will NOT be accepted. Advanced placement credits do not qualify as undergraduate credits under this scholarship program. This is a scholarship for those who are already in college. You must complete at least one (1) semester at an undergraduate institution in order to be eligible to apply.

I am in my last year and will be graduating from my university/college. Can I still apply for the scholarship?
The AWIB Scholarship Fund is designed to be used for your undergraduate years and not for graduate school or other post-graduation activities. At the time of award in November 2012, you must have at least one (1) semester/term (a full course load) remaining before graduation.

I attend a community college. Since it is only a two-year degree program, do I qualify for the scholarship?
Yes, but only if you provide documentation that you will be attending or transferring to a four year college. Proof can be in the form of an admission letter or an application sent to a 4 year institution. Students who do not continue their education by attending a four year college are not eligible for the AWIB Scholarship.

Do I need to submit my official college transcript?
No. Initially, you may submit an unofficial college transcript. Semi-finalists will be asked to provide their most recent official college transcript.

What qualifies as entrepreneurial achievement?
Starting a business qualifies as entrepreneurial. However, you must have this business at least one year, it should generate revenues and it must be profitable. If it is a non-profit, you must provide proof of what your organization has accomplished. Please note that you do not need to have an entrepreneurial background to qualify for this scholarship.

What is considered community experience?
Ideally, community experience is voluntary work which clearly provides benefit to groups of people. It can also be an internship with a non-profit organization where you help fulfill the mission of the group. Working in a for-profit enterprise is not considered community experience even if it is located in a community or local area.

How do I demonstrate leadership?
We are looking for students who are making a difference, who are leading others to do the same, and who are passionate and committed to a cause over a period of time. Volunteering a few days for a community service project is laudable but would not be sufficient proof of leadership for this scholarship. Examples of leadership include: (a) holding a position of authority in a voluntary activity; (b) leading an effort to organize students on campus and/or raising money for a good cause; (c) founding or leading an organization to help inner city youth; providing programs on envirnomental issues; implementing services to the community or leading activities/programs that have a positive impact; (d) working at a non-profit organization during the school year or summers and responsible for leading a group of volunteers, raising funds or managing a significant project.

Can my application be handwritten?
No. Handwritten applications will be rejected without review. Applications must be typed. The application is a text-enabled pdf.

Will the references provided in my application be contacted?
At the semi-final stage of the review process, we will be verifying references provided by applicants under the appropriate application sections (community service, leadership experience, work experience and entrepreneurial endeavor). It is the responsibility of applicants to provide us with correct and current contact information. References from family members are not acceptable. References from other students will not be sufficient to prove leadership. The use of service or experience in an organization run by a family member may result in disqualification unless full disclosure is made and reliable and independent verification is provided. The best references are employers, supervisors, professors, deans, etc.

May I fax my application?
No. We do not accept faxed applications. We only accept mailed applications to AWIB.

What is the deadline for the application submissions?
The deadline for submission is October 1, 2012. Completed applications must be postmarked with the required attachments on or before October 1, 2012. Late applications will not be considered. Please do not submit applications past this deadline. Recommendation letters may be sent separately but must be received on or before the deadline.

Where do I send my completed application?
Mail your application package to:

Asian Women In Business
42 Broadway, Suite 1748
New York, NY 10004

Will I be notified when my application package is received?
No. It is advisable for you to opt for a delivery confirmation service such as Priority Mail with the US Postal Service when you mail your application to AWIB. Your package will not be returned to you so please make a copy for your records.

When will scholarship winners be notified?
Winners will be notified in November of 2012. AWIB, at its discretion, may conduct interviews with semi-finalists and finalists. The names of scholarship winners will be posted on www.awib.org.

Would the scholarship award amount be less if I have several other scholarships and loans?
No. The AWIB scholarship award is not need-based. Thus, it is a set amount regardless. However, it may affect the financial aid package that you receive at your college. If chosen to be a scholarship recipient, it would be your responsibility to report any external education scholarships that you receive to your school’s Financial Aid Office.

Who is the scholarship award check made out to?
The scholarship award check of $2,500 will be made out to the scholarship recipient, and not to the recipient’s school. Scholarship money is expected to go towards educational or related expenses.

Is the AWIB scholarship taxable?
Tax laws vary by state / county. We recommend the scholarship recipient to contact her tax advisor for more guidance on this matter. The scholarship recipient is responsible for taxes that may be assessed against the scholarship award.

What if I have a question not answered here?
We have tried to answer the most common and prevalent questions about the AWIB Scholarship Fund. If you have additional questions not covered by the FAQ, please send us an email at scholarship@awib.org.

The 2013 Scholarship Application form

Completed applications must be postmarked on or before August 1, 2013.
Winners will be notified by October 2013.

For more information, please visit official website: www.awib.org.

• Nestlé Scholarship for Women, IMD Business School, Switzerland
• Fellowship Grant, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore
• Amelia Earhart Fellowship for Women in Aerospace Science, Zonta International, USA
• Educational Grants Women Scholarships from Developing Countries, Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund, USA
• Ruth Whaley Bursary for Women in Finance, University of Cambridge, UK
• Anne van den Ban Scholarship Fund, Masters Scholarships for Students from Developing Country, Wageningen University, Netherlands
• International Fellowships, American Association of University Women (AAUW), USA
• Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship, Wesleyan University, USA
• MBA Scholarships, London School of Business and Finance, UK
• ADB-Japan Postgraduate Scholarships, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the above information is current and correct. However, applicants should contact the appropriate administering body before making an application, as details do change frequently.