Barbara Chavez Memorial Scholarship

Barbara Chavez joined the Portland Woman’s Club in January 2018, beginning a chapter of dedicated service and a friendship that became an important part of her life in Oregon. Barbara brought warmth, humor, enthusiasm, and a deep commitment to giving back to everything she did, championing projects such as Meals on Wheels and encouraging members to become more involved in their communities. She served as President of the Portland Woman’s Club and, in 2024, became President of the Oregon Federation of Women’s Clubs, focusing on supporting members and the meaningful work being carried out by clubs throughout the state. Barbara’s friendship, wit, generosity, and devotion to service left a lasting impression on all who knew her, and her legacy continues through the people and causes she inspired.

The Barbara Chavez Memorial Scholarship honors Barbara’s lifelong commitment to community, service, education, and helping others. The scholarship is offered by the Portland Woman’s Club, an organization with more than 125 years of history advocating for women and advancing equity through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Along with the MinnieBelle Johnson Scholarship and the Kim Peterson Scholarship, the Barbara Chavez Memorial Scholarship recognizes Mt. Hood Community College students who demonstrate both excellence and financial need and who are pursuing a degree or certificate, including Career Pathways Certificate programs. Eligible students must be graduates of a Portland Metro area high school or have earned a GED, making this scholarship a meaningful continuation of Barbara’s belief in service, opportunity, and investing in the future of her community.

Criteria:
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for this scholarship.
• Much be a graduate or GED graduate from a Portland Metro area high school
• Must have a declared major in a degree or certificate granting program
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Must demonstrate financial need via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Oregon State Aid Application (ORSAA)

Requirements:
Once selected, the recipient must meet the following requirements in order to remain eligible for this scholarship.
• Recipients are encouraged to attend the Portland Women’s Club Annual Luncheon
• Must maintain full-time enrollment at MHCC (12+ credits per term) during each term the scholarship is in effect
• Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by the MHCC Office of Financial Aid (excluding maximum timeframe requirements). Visit https://mhcc.edu/KeepMyAid/ for more information.
 
Scholarship Details:
• Funds will be distributed equally between fall, winter, and spring terms
• Scholarship funds may be used for tuition and fees only; no cash will be disbursed
• This scholarship is renewable for an additional year if sufficient funding is available and the recipient continues to meet the scholarship requirements.

Award amounts are subject to change based on availability of funds.