Non-Profit Will Award Scholarships to First-Generation Female College Students

A Lexington mother and her adult daughter want to help first-generation college students achieve their dreams.

Chrissy Herren, a Bank of the Bluegrass loan officer, and her mother Susan, a retired high school English teacher, are co-founders of First Generation Women Achievers of the Bluegrass, a non-profit organization that awards scholarships to first generation women planning on attending college at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University.

First Generation Women Achievers of the Bluegrass will award two scholarships between $500 and $1,000 each. The deadline to apply is March 1. For application information, visit www.firstgenwomenbg.org.

Herren and her mother will announce the winners at a scholarship banquet on Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Corto Lima restaurant at 101 W. Short St.

Chrissy Herren is a UK graduate with a master’s degree in community leadership development. She wrote her thesis on first-generation college students, which served as the springboard for the scholarship.

Along with a scholarship, students will receive mentoring and instruction on work place skills and the importance of networking.

Info: firstgenwomenbg@gmail.com or visit www.firstgenwomenbg.org.