Scholarship Application

The Butterfly Scholarship

Supporting students in seasons of transformation — rising, learning, and taking flight.

Mission Statement

The Butterfly Scholarship

The Butterfly Scholarship exists to lift up young women who, like the butterfly, are in the midst of becoming — transforming challenge into purpose and hardship into strength. We support female students from single-parent households who are pursuing psychology, human services, and behavioral science, fields devoted to understanding the human spirit and helping others heal, grow, and thrive.

Named in honor of Vanessa Holloway — a minister, a student of psychology, and a woman whose very name meant "butterfly" — this scholarship carries forward her extraordinary example. Vanessa embodied metamorphosis: she met every obstacle with intention, turning what was meant for harm into good and magnifying every opportunity into something greater. She was never generic, never defeated, always determined to prevail. Through this award, we invest in young women who carry that same resolve — the ability to transform whatever comes their way into a force for good in their own lives and in the lives of those they will one day serve.

Our mission is to remove barriers, to honor a remarkable life, and to nurture the next generation of women who will turn their trials into triumph and their education into service.

The Meaning Behind the Butterfly

In Honor of Vanessa Holloway

The butterfly is the heart of this scholarship, and it is no accident. Vanessa Holloway's name itself meant "butterfly," and few symbols could capture her life more completely.

A butterfly does not begin as a butterfly. It begins as something small and earthbound, and through a process of metamorphosis — one form transforming into many — it becomes something capable of flight. Vanessa lived that transformation. She overcame significant adversity, and no matter what came against her, she prevailed every time. She did everything with intent: when an obstacle arrived in a negative form, she was determined to turn it around for her good; when an opportunity came her way, she magnified it and multiplied it. Many who knew her would call her the poster child for transformation.

This scholarship carries that spirit forward. Each recipient is, in her own way, in the middle of a metamorphosis — a young woman turning her circumstances into calling, her struggles into strength, and her education into a life of service to others. The butterfly reminds us that where a person begins does not determine where she will end, and that transformation, pursued with intention, is one of the most powerful forces there is.

"The Christ in you, the hope of glory." — Vanessa Holloway

Every young woman who receives The Butterfly Scholarship carries a piece of Vanessa's legacy with her — the belief that no obstacle is final, that every trial can be transformed, and that she, too, is becoming everything she was meant to be.

Overview

About the scholarship

The Butterfly Scholarship supports young women who are pursuing careers dedicated to understanding and helping others. Rooted in the belief that transformation and growth come from those who nurture the human spirit, this award recognizes students entering fields devoted to mental health, human services, and behavioral science. Like the butterfly, this scholarship celebrates resilience, change, and the beauty of becoming.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Gender:Female
Household:Must come from a single-parent household
Intended major:Must be majoring in Psychology, or a related human services or behavioral science field (e.g., social work, counseling, sociology, human development, mental health, criminal justice with a behavioral focus, or a similar discipline)
Academic standing:Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
Educational plans:Must be enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited four-year university

Required Application Materials

Completed application form
Official transcript (verifying a minimum 2.0 GPA)
Proof of enrollment or acceptance at a four-year university
Verification of intended major (acceptance letter, enrollment record, or declared major documentation)
A brief statement confirming single-parent household status
Personal essay (see prompt below)
One letter of recommendation (from a teacher, counselor, mentor, employer, or community leader)

Essay Prompt

In 500–750 words, describe what drew you to the field of psychology, human services, or behavioral science. How have your personal experiences — including growing up in a single-parent household — shaped your desire to help others? What impact do you hope to make through your career?

Selection Criteria

The committee will evaluate applicants based on:

40%:Strength and sincerity of the personal essay
25%:Demonstrated commitment to helping others
20%:Clarity of academic and career goals in a human services field
15%:Academic record and letter of recommendation

Award Details

Amount: $250
Number of awards: 1 per year
Disbursement: Funds paid directly to the recipient's chosen four-year university toward tuition, fees, books, or required supplies
Renewable: One-time; non-renewable

Application Timeline

Application opens: January 15, 2027
Submission deadline: May 24, 2027
Recipient notified: July 2, 2027
Award disbursed: July 9, 2027

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The Butterfly Scholarship

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