During a time when women faced barriers that made it more difficult to reach their educational and professional goals, Gerry Pressly Weldon embodied the best of Girl Scouting. In honor of Gerry’s tenacity and fortitude, Gerry’s daughter, Vickie Trott, established this scholarship.
As a young woman during WWII, Gerry was among a select group of “mathematically advanced” women, graduating from the Curtiss-Wright Aeronautic Engineering program focused on advanced mathematics, aerodynamics, engineering, and design. This elite 10-month program was sponsored by the federal government and was only offered at seven universities across the country. Upon completing the program, Gerry worked at one of the C-W airplane manufacturing plants as a draftsperson while continuing her education at night and ultimately graduating with her degree in mathematics in 1945 and an MBA at the age of 58.
Gerry was a Girl Scout Troop Leader and threw herself into the Girl Scout experience – taking all the leader and outdoor training available, buying camping gear, and teaching her daughters to camp. Long after her Troop Leader days, Gerry continued those outdoor experiences with her granddaughters and volunteered as the day camp “tie-dye lady” and adult camper on overnights.
Vickie created this scholarship to be awarded to girls who demonstrate academic excellence and upload the highest ideals of Girl Scouting – just as her mother did.
The Geraldine Weldon Scholarship renewal process
Past recipients may renew their scholarship for three additional years, pending fund availability. To renew, the recipient must submit verification of their enrollment status at an accredited college or university and current GPA (minimum 3.1 on a 4.0 scale) to the council annually.
The deadline to renew funding is July 1 of the year they would like to renew funding.