Edinboro student wins APSCUF scholarship

Edinboro junior and dual psychology/data analytics major Elizabeth Bennett recently won a $3,000 scholarship from the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF). The scholarship is open to relatives of APSCUF members, which is the faculty union at Edinboro and other PASSHE schools.

Bennett’s father is a professor in the math and computer science department at Edinboro and recommended the scholarship to her. “My dad first recommended it and said, ‘Hey, there is a scholarship for dependents, you ought to fill it out.’ Then one of his coworkers said, ‘Hey Lizzie, I think you should do this, that’d be awesome,’” she explained.

She took their advice and filled out the application. Along with it, she had to submit an essay about how community service factored into her future career plans, an application, a resume, and two reference letters. “I ended up submitting three because I’m extra,” said Bennett.

The competition was very tough this year, she explained. “For the first time, they had to do two rounds of scoring, and they said that half the applicants had a GPA of 3.9 or above, with other activities. So apparently it was good people." Bennett carries a 4.0 GPA herself. 

“They sent me an email, and it was really funny because the email started with the explanation of, ‘we had to score twice, and there were a lot of really good candidates.’ So to me, it sounded like they were starting to let me down easy,” explained Bennett. “Then, in the middle of the email, it said, ‘Congratulations we like to announce that you have won the scholarship.’”

Her mother had a similar reaction to being read the email. “I read it to my mom and she’s like, ‘Awe I’m sorry Lizzie, it’s OK  — oh my god wait you won!’” Her dad, she said, was much more casual but still very proud.

Bennett attributes her success with this scholarship to her reference letters and her essay on work in the community. There were many experiences for her to pull from, including working during STEM Day and Pi Day, being in the honors college, being in the Edinboro Marching Band as a drum major, and being in the campus psychology club. Bennett, who feels like a normal college kid, said, “I don’t feel like I am special, I just feel lucky I won it.”

The 2021 scholarship application will be available in late 2020 or early 2021.

Samantha Mannion is a staff writer for The Spectator. She can be reached at edinboro.spectator@gmail.com.

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