Be a GEM. Live an amazing life.
In memory of Grace Erline, generously supported by donations from family and friends.
We support young women in the Greater Baltimore area who need help living their dreams of education and adventure.
Our Mission
We help young women in Maryland achieve their educational goals and encourage them to live amazing lives by awarding scholarships to those who are dedicated to giving back. Our scholarship recipients and committee members are dedicated to creating a community of strong, intelligent, and compassionate women.
In Honor of Grace
Grace Erline, our sister, daughter, and friend, died in 2015 at the age of 24, one year after being diagnosed with a rare form of oral cancer. During an intense treatment which included radical surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, Grace temporarily lost the ability to speak - but she never lost the ability to make herself heard. Her strength, boldness, sense of humor, compassion to others in similar circumstances, and drive served as an inspiration to all who knew her (and even to some she never met).
Grace's education was extremely important to her. Her only desire after learning that her cancer had metastasized was to continue attending classes at Notre Dame University in Baltimore and fulfill her dream of attaining her Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, with a goal towards working in radiological sciences. Although she did not get to finish her degree, she has inspired many of her classmates and friends to prioritize their own educational goals. In her name, we want to help others achieve their educational goals, too.
Who Can Apply?
The Grace Erline Memorial Girls Gone Great Scholarship is open to women ages 17-24, living in Maryland who are attending or plan to attend a 4 year college, although special consideration will be given to students who are transferring from a 2 year college to a 4 year college or who are returning to school for a BS or BA after achieving their AA degrees. Such applicants are highly encouraged to apply.
The Grace Erline Memorial Live an Amazing Life Adventure Grant is open to women living in Maryland between the ages of 18-30, with a plan to have an adventure (including justification, budget, and willingness to report back on results). Adventures might include taking a class, traveling, attending an internship, fellowship, or volunteer program, doing research, or many more opportunities we haven't thought of.
The Grace Erline Memorial Scholarship committee encourages all applicants who meet the above criteria, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other protected status.