2017-2018
CHERRY GRAY
P.E.O. SCHOLARSHIP
The
Cherry Gray P.E.O. Scholarship is a $1,000 tuition/fees merit-based scholarship
recognizing a graduating high school senior woman.
The criteria for the Cherry Gray
P.E.O. Scholarship are:
·
A High School female graduate or in
her final academic year of high
school, age 20 or under,
and attending one of the following High Schools:
Lake
Travis, Dripping Springs, Westwood, Bowie, Vandergrift,
and
Hendrickson.
·
A United States citizen.
·
Has a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA
of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
·
Must exhibit excellence in
leadership, academics, extracurricular
activities, and community service.
·
Has applied to an accredited
post-secondary education
institution in the U.S.
Willing to attend personal
interview held in the Lakeway area.
P.E.O. Is a philanthropic
organization where women celebrate the advancement of women;
educate women through scholarships,
grants, awards, loans, and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate women to achieve their highest
aspirations.
P.E.O.
has a membership of over 230,000 members in chapters throughout the United
States and Canada. In the 2015-2016 academic year P.E.O. granted over $6
million in scholarships.
Cherry Gray was a member of P.E.O. for over 50 years in Austin. Prior to her death, she bequeathed a sum of
money to P.E.O. to be used to assist women in obtaining higher education. Her chapter has established the Cherry Gray
Scholarship.
If there are questions concerning the Cherry Gray scholarship, please
email:
Dianne Wesselhoft at dwesselhoft@gmail.com
Stop by the Counseling Office to pick up a scholarship application!
THE LADY BEHIND THE SCHOLARSHIP
Cherry Kemble Gray was a beloved member of P.E.O. (Philanthropic, Educational
Organization) for over 50 years. She helped establish P.E.O. Chapter FK in Austin in 1979.
Cherry bequeathed a substantial sum of money upon her death in November, 2011, to
P.E.O. to go towards furthering women’s education in some way. Chapter FK decided to use
this money to create a scholarship in Cherry’s memory. The Cherry Gray Scholarship will
be awarded to a young lady who exemplifies the qualities Cherry embodied.
Cherry, a native Texan, graduated from Texas Christian University, with a degree in
business and a minor in music. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Cherry
had a profound impact on the Austin Community. She was very involved with Meals on
Wheels in Austin, where she was one of the original eight volunteers who cooked and
delivered meals to the elderly. In 2004, Cherry received the Austin Community Keepsake
Award for her outstanding contribution to Meals on Wheels. She also served on the Council
for the Elderly. Cherry and her husband, Joe, were very active in their church and loved to
travel. Cherry was an avid tennis player and loved her involvement with PEO, and sewing,
bridge and garden clubs.
Cherry was devoted to PEO and furthering education for women. We, in turn, loved Cherry
and are delighted to give this scholarship in her honor and to support young women like
her in their pursuit of higher education.
