Our Scholarship
The Athena A.C.E. (Award for Continuing Education) Scholarship was created to support the women of our Finger Lakes community.
Scholarships are available to women who are:
•Over the age of 25
•Residents of Seneca, Yates, or Eastern Ontario counties
•Enrolled in an educational program by September 30th
Scholarship money may be used for:
•Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, & Doctorate Degrees Licenses or Certifications of any kind
•TASC Programs
•Childcare, transportation, laptop, printer, program materials, etc.
Our scholarship and organization are based upon the core values promoted by the ATHENA International program:
1. Excellence, creativity and initiative in her profession,
2. Valuable service by contributing time and energy to her community, and
3. Assistance to other women of all ages in reaching their full potential.
Our Story
The Athena A.C.E. (Award for Continuing Education) was founded in 2009 by a small group of women who wanted the local Athena Award to have a lasting impact on their Finger Lakes community. Their idea became a scholarship fund that helps one or more women each year as they strive to improve their lives through education, whether by starting, advancing, or changing their career path.
In 2015, the Athena A.C.E. Association was granted official 501c3 status with the IRS and designated an approved charity with the New York State Charities Bureau by the NYS Office of the Attorney General. Later that year, the first ever fundraising campaign generated enough revenue to fund two scholarships totaling $4,500. This level of success has been repeated in subsequent years, and the need for our scholarship continues to grow. Each year we are overwhelmed with increasing numbers of applications from deserving candidates asking for support, and we see a genuine opportunity to help women in our Finger Lakes community.
Our Board of Directors
