Scholarships Directory

The Kyle Hartvickson Handegard Scholarship is named for Kyle Handegard, Gamma Nu/North Dakota State. As a former member of Theta Foundation’s scholarship committee, Kyle has seen firsthand the financial needs of applicants and knew she wanted to do more to help. Over the years, she has been involved on the local, district, and international levels of Kappa Alpha Theta and still serves as an alumnae contact officer to this day. She now enjoys reunions with her previous advisees and loves keeping in touch with them! Kyle intends for this scholarship to give recipients a helpful boost to propel them towards graduation and hopes that they will be able to pay it forward someday.

The Laurie McGregor Connor Scholarship is named for Laurie Connor, Gamma deuteron/Ohio Wesleyan. Laurie’s husband, Terry, surprised her with this scholarship at the 2012 Grand Convention. She always wanted to help Gamma deuteron collegians and alumnae benefit from financial assistance while in school. Laurie has proudly been an active Theta since her initiation in 1974, even serving as a Traveling Consultant (now Educational Leadership Consultant). She cites Theta for developing her leadership skills. Laurie wants recipients of her scholarship to be able to enjoy their college or post-graduate experience with less financial burden.

The Linda Moran Schmidt Scholarship is named in memory of Linda Schmidt, Beta Sigma/SMU. This fund was established by Linda’s husband after her passing to honor her commitment to scholarship. Linda and her husband, C.L. Mike Schmidt, met at SMU. Linda served as president of her chapter, and during that time, her husband recounts that he simultaneously fell in love with her and gained enormous respect for the women of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was dedicated to her studies and a role model to other students. To commemorate Linda’s legacy of academic excellence, her scholarship provides graduate students with much needed financial support to further their studies in their desired field.

The Lyn Stewart Simensen Scholarship is named for Lyn Simensen, Gamma Gamma/Rollins. While serving as a Theta Foundation trustee, Lyn was involved with the scholarship program and got a glimpse into the overwhelming financial need of our members. She felt compelled to help as a result. “If I could establish a scholarship to benefit undergraduate women and enable them to remain in school, I would do it.” A favorite Theta tradition for Lyn is the final banquet and grand processional at Grand Convention. She has had the privilege to attend numerous Grant Conventions in various capacities, and it is a wonderful reminder of the strength of our fraternity through the years. Lyn hopes that this scholarship helps Thetas continue in school and lessen the financial burden of higher education.

The Marcia Wolff Thompson Scholarship is named for Marcia Thompson, Gamma Upsilon/Miami. This scholarship was created by Marcia’s husband who wanted to honor her commitment to Kappa Alpha Theta and provide educational opportunities for future members. Marcia began volunteering for Theta as a college chapter advisor and continued as a budget district director (BDD) for more than 25 years. Of this experience, she says that she enjoyed working with collegians and helping them establish sound financial practices for their chapters. Marcia’s background as a certified public accountant (CPA) inspired her and her husband to provide financial aid to a member who is studying accounting or a similar subject.

The Mariam M. Morrison/Delta Sigma Scholarship is named after Mariam “Mom” Morrison, Alpha Chi/Purdue, who embodied the phrase ‘Theta for a lifetime.’ Mariam embraced the Kappa Theta Rho sorority on Ball State University’s campus, which eventually became the Delta Sigma chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was instrumental in making the dream of bringing Kappa Alpha Theta to Ball State a reality. Carol Sewell, Delta Sigma/Ball State, chaired the committee to help establish this scholarship in Mariam’s name, unveiling it at Delta Sigma chapter’s 25th anniversary celebration in 1995. Carol hopes recipients of this scholarship will be reminded of how important it is to support one another as women and as sisters, not only during the college experience, but for a lifetime.

The Mary Elizabeth Donnell Mitchell Memorial Scholarship was established in loving memory of Mary Liz Mitchell, Gamma/Butler (pictured here on her wedding day), by her five children. Mary Liz lived a life filled with challenges, which she always met with love. Adopted by a couple in Indiana shortly after her birth, Mary Liz grew up near Butler University, where she would eventually go to college and join Kappa Alpha Theta. Although she started out as a chemistry major, she switched to journalism during her senior year to study alongside her eventual husband, Jim. Attending college during World War II, she worked in a pharmaceuticals company washing vaccination bottles in assembly line fashion outside of her coursework and social pursuits. Mary Liz raised five children and stayed active and independent into her adult years. She was involved in many creative pursuits, including drama, beekeeping, and birding. A favorite and frequent reminder to her children was “show a little initiative,” which she certainly did throughout her life.

The Mary Jane Parker Beach Scholarship is named for Mary Jane Beach, Beta Nu/Florida State (pictured left). The very first scholarship from this fund was awarded at Grand Convention in 2004 where Mary Jane presided as outgoing Fraternity president, a memorable surprise! Her Theta sisters established and funded this scholarship in honor of her service. She would like recipients to know how much Kappa Alpha Theta has positively impacted her life. Theta has blessed her with lifelong friendships and opportunities beyond which she could have ever dreamed. She hopes that recipients will find some relief from the financial burden of tuition and other academic costs through these funds, encouraging and inspiring them to be the very best they can be.

The Melissa (Lissa) Luton Bradford/Nashville Alumnae Chapter Scholarship is named for Lissa Bradford, Alpha Eta/Vanderbilt. This scholarship was created to honor her years of service to Kappa Alpha Theta and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). Lissa has served Theta in numerous roles, most notably as Fraternity president and NPC delegate. For Lissa, Kappa Alpha Theta has meant an untold number of friends, young and old, very close and thousands of miles away. She has shared many things with her Theta sisters, including happiness, disappointment, success, and failure, but always the joy that comes with true sisterhood. She hopes that recipients of this scholarship receive the financial support needed to maintain their Theta and Panhellenic involvement and one day give others a leg up.

The Monisa Cox Cline Scholarship is named for Monisa Cline, Delta Theta/Florida. Monisa notes that her Theta experience was “truly life-altering” and some of her closest friends today are her Delta Theta sisters. As such, she wants to pay it forward and give back to the organization that enriched her life in so many ways. Monisa hopes that recipients of this scholarship are able to accomplish their goals. She hopes they feel empowered to make wise choices, work hard, and surround themselves with positive people.

The Nancy Ross Perry Scholarship was established by Ann Drake, Beta Omicron/Iowa, to honor the memory of her friend and fellow Theta sister. Ann, who was in the same member class as Nancy, describes her as an incredible friend and influence during their time as collegians. By honoring Nancy with this fund, Ann hopes that other Thetas will be given the opportunity to make connections that last a lifetime, just as they did. Ann wants recipients of this scholarship to treasure their Theta experience, uphold Theta’s values, and make the best of college and beyond.

The Sharon Cirese Gassett Memorial Scholarship is named after Sharon Gassett, Gamma Xi/San Jose State, and was created by her sister, Charleen Boyl, Gamma Xi/San Jose State. Sharon was a devoted Theta, serving on Grand Council at the time of her death. Her husband, sister, and parents agreed that this scholarship would be a wonderful way to honor Sharon’s life, serving as a memory of Sharon’s undeniable vibrancy. Aside from the many activities and traditions she was able to participate in, one of Sharon’s favorite memories was when Charleen pledged Theta at her very own chapter! Sharon’s family hopes recipients of this scholarship will come to appreciate and understand that Theta is a lifelong joy.