Scholarship Opportunities for African-American Students

Feb. 18, 2014

Applications for tuition scholarships through the Mary E. Wood Scholarship Fund and the Larry W. Carter Scholarship Fund are currently available for African-American students seeking higher education.

 

Students may contact their school counselors for more information on the Mary E. Wood and Larry W. Carter scholarships or visit www.marywoodscholarship.com or www.larrycarterscholarship.com.

 

Students with questions about this opportunity may contact Anna Nalean at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines at nalean@desmoinesfoundation.org or (515) 244-0340. The deadline for all scholarship applications is May 15, 2014.

About Mary E. Wood

Mary E. Wood was born August 28, 1902, in Des Moines, Iowa.  She attended Des Moines Public Schools and graduated from East High School.  In 1924, she received her Bachelors Degree from Drake University and continued her education at New York University in New York City, receiving a Master of Arts in Education. 

 

Mary Wood was the first African-American woman in the United States to be named executive director of a greater metropolitan YWCA and held that position in several states. After retiring, she served as a consultant for the National Board of the YWCA and implemented its imperative to "eliminate racism wherever it exists by any means necessary."

 

About Larry W. Carter

Larry W. Carter was also educated in Des Moines Public School system. He was the first African-American to enroll and graduate from the Intermountain School of Telegraphy.  He also received a degree from the Marquette University Advanced School of Management and the Management Development Institute.

 

Larry Carter worked for Norwest Financial for more than 27 years and eventually became one of the highest ranking African-American corporate officers in Des Moines.

The Community Foundation administers the Mary E. Wood Scholarship and the Larry W. Carter Scholarship funds.