By: Lacy Nelson

In 1982, the Junior League of Washington (JLW) created the Meg Graham scholarship, which celebrates both the service and leadership of local students, as well as honors the late Reverend Margaret M. Graham, a former member of JLW and former President of the Association of Junior Leagues International. 

Today, 40 years after its debut, JLW still awards this prestigious scholarship to graduating seniors who live in Washington, DC, and have demonstrated outstanding voluntarism in their community. This is just one of many ways JLW members are working to support local students and the next generation of leaders in their community — and despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, members are working hard to envision and pivot in new ways to engage and give back. This year, the scholarship amount will be $10,000 awarded to one student. 

Drawing on the vast experiences of League members, this year the JLW Community Outreach Committee will tap into the talents of its members to put together workshops aimed at helping students write high quality essays and navigate the scholarship application process, which can often be a confusing or intimidating task. Right now, the Community Outreach Committee is planning two workshops to be held this spring — one which will be live-streamed and one which will be recorded for on-demand viewing. 

For the first time, in 2022, JLW is excited to work alongside the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) with its Scholars Program — an invitation program for high-achieving, academically-motivated students — to further publicize the Meg Graham scholarship and the upcoming workshops. This partnership will allow League members to better connect with graduating seniors and assist in their journey as they transition to the next chapter of their lives post high school.

JLW Workshop Schedule

• Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 7 p.m. EST: Scholarship application and basic writing tips workshop 
• TBD: Intensive essay writing workshop

Meg Graham Scholarship Application Schedule

• Thursday, March 3, 2022: Meg Graham Scholarship application deadline
• Saturday, April 9, or Sunday, April 10, 2022: In-person interviews for selected finalists
• Wednesday, April 20, 2022: Scholarship winner notified by this date