The Willa Cather Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1955 to honor Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Willa Cather by preserving and promoting her life and work. The Foundation’s primary base is in Rural Red Cloud, Nebraska, where Cather grew up. Annually, more than 60,000 individuals benefit from the services and resources provided by the Foundation. In memory of Norma Ross Walter, a great admirer of Cather’s literature and a staunch supporter of women’s education, the Norma Ross Walter Scholarship was founded in 1982 after her demise. To apply for this scholarship, one must submit an essay of 1,500 words on Cather and her works. The essay may either be a new one or previously written, as long as it is the applicant’s original work. Scholarships are awarded to applicants who express the greatest knowledge of Cather’s works and show the greatest overall potential for excellence in writing. Scholarship winners receive $3000 for one year of tuition at an accredited college, university, or trade school. They also receive an all-expense paid trip to Red Cloud, Nebraska, to participate in a public ceremony during Willa Cather Heritage Weekend.
- This scholarship is awarded annually and is renewable for a maximum of two years if the recipient maintains a GPA of 3. Suppose you are a female high school senior from Nebraska who intends to major in English at a university. In that case, consider applying for the Norma Ross Walter Scholarship.
- This scholarship is exclusively available to female high school seniors from Nebraska who plan to pursue English majors at accredited universities. It is funded by the Willa Cather Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1955 to maintain Cather’s legacy and support the next generation of writers.
- Since 1987, the scholarship has been named in honor of Norma Ross Walter, a Navy Wave during the Second World War and a career newspaper editor in California. Each year, the scholarship committee awards up to three scholarships worth up to $3,000 to eligible candidates with a passion for the written word.
