The Legacy of Heroines program provides scholarships to outstanding women and men of various majors who are interested in the political process, public service, leadership, or gender and politics. Scholarship awards are based on academic merit, leadership, and specific criteria established by scholarship donors.

All scholarships in the program are privately funded. As part of the criteria set by donors, Legacy of Heroines scholarship recipients are required to participate in at least three activities during the academic year through the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics.

How to apply

When completing your OneApp general application, be sure to complete the scholarship opportunity called “Carrie Chapman Catt Legacy of Heroines Scholarships” to ensure you are considered for a Legacy of Heroines scholarship.

Application deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year: March 25, 2026

Available scholarships and requirements

Awards for each scholarship are for one academic year (fall and spring semesters) for students enrolled at Iowa State University. Most scholarships may be renewed based on program participation and continued eligibility.

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student
  • Interest in animal health
  • Demonstrated leadership skills and/or interest in women’s issues and/or traditionally underrepresented groups
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA on 4.0 scale
  • Preference for a student interested in attending the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Preference to students who demonstrate financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Read about Katherine Bruntlett Annin in the Plaza of Heroines

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student
  • Preference to applicants majoring in mathematics, particularly mathematics majors with a secondary education major. If there are no qualified applicants with a mathematics major, preference goes to a statistics or computer science major.
  • Preference to applicants with financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid

Criteria:

  • Available to students of any class standing

Read about Maxine Burch in the Plaza of Heroines

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student who has graduated from high school in, or who currently resides in Polk County, Iowa. If there are no qualified applicants in Polk County, recipients residing in the immediate surrounding counties of Dallas, Boone, Story, Jasper, Marion, Warren, or Madison may be selected.
  • Enrolled and pursuing a major

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student

Read about Jane Greimann in the Plaza of Heroines

Criteria:

  • Available to students regardless of class standing

Criteria:

  • High scholastic aptitude, strong leadership qualities and personal circumstances will be considered when selecting recipients

Read about Elizabeth Hoffman in the Plaza of Heroines

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student majoring in one of the science programs with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with preference to physics majors
  • Applicants should demonstrate consistently good scholarship, with a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
  • Demonstrated financial need also a consideration
  • Awarded to one rising sophomore each year, with two years of possible renewals; awards for a junior or senior are sometimes also available

Hear from Helen Jensen Howe in the Plaza of Heroines

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student pursuing a career in the medical field, public health, health care administration, health research, and/or health policy
  • Preference given to female-identifying students

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student
  • Preference for a student majoring in political science, history, French, music, or chemical engineering OR from Minnesota, Massachusetts, or South Carolina

Criteria:

  • Available to students regardless of class standing
  • Must demonstrate financial need

Criteria:

  • Undergraduate student majoring in political science

Criteria:

  • Full-time student
  • Undergraduate or graduate student
  • May be awarded as an internship or scholarship

Read about Sharon Rodine and Alice Rodine on the Plaza of Heroines

Criteria:

  • Full-time undergraduate student pursuing a degree in a pre-medicine or pre-health program
  • Preference to applicants with financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid

Read about Dr. Turner on the Plaza of Heroines

Watch “Live from Cy’s Lounge with Deborah Turner“

Criteria:

  • Preference for students who participate in choral or other music activities

2026-2027 Legacy of Heroines scholars

  • Vasudha Arora – Jane Greimann Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Injir Batmunkh – Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science
  • Emily Carr – Kedrowski and Fitzgerald Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Sydney Casey – Meylor Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Isabella Casiano – Kedrowski and Fitzgerald Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Evelyn Colin – Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Kaylin Dains – Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship Fund
  • Lilyann Downard – Student Internship and Scholarship General Fund – Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Kaitlyn Frank – Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Alicia Gagnon-Williams – Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Ashlynn Gunnerson Beth Bierbaum – Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Abigail Gustafson –  Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • McKenna Harken – Katherine Bruntlett Annin Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Claire Hartley – Political Science Alumni Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Josie Kelly – Jane Greimann Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Jess Kowalski – Student Internship and Scholarship General Fund – Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Emily Kucera – Maxine M. Burch Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Adayansy Maceda Mireles – Political Science Alumni Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Chloe McAleer – Beth Bierbaum Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Ayana Miller – Katherine Bruntlett Annin Scholarship in LAS
  • Alyssa Neddermeyer – Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Riley Oshel – Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science
  • Lilly Riley – Maxine M. Burch Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Sophia Schmitz – Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Konstantin Titarenko – Haselhoff Familly Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Elizabeth Topf – Dr. Deborah Turner Legacy of Heroines Scholarship
  • Aliya Yanga – Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship