El Paso Scholarship Supports Single Moms in Education

March is International Women's month and that means we’re celebrating women not just with flowers and hashtags, but with real opportunities.

Far too many times I have heard women mention that they had to put their careers or education on hold because financially they couldn’t afford it. I was thankful for parents that helped me continue my educational goals even after I became a single mom, but not everyone has that advantage. That’s why I’m launching Iris’ Scholarship Spotlight. A web article series dedicated to highlighting scholarships in El Paso designed for women in our community.

My goal is to make it easier for women to find that opportunity to continue their educational goals because sometimes all it takes is seeing the opportunity in front of you to say, “Okay, I can do this!”

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Know of a scholarship I should add to the list?

There are so many scholarships out there specifically created to support women that are future educators, single moms, first-gen students, career changers, dream-chasers, but let’s be honest sometimes finding them feels like scrolling for hours and still missing the one you actually qualify for. The opportunities exist. They’re just not always easy to spot.

If you know of a scholarship specifically for women in our area, send it my way. Let’s build a running list of real resources that can truly change someone’s life. You can send the details through the KISS Mobile app or email me at iris.lopez@townsquaremedia.com

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The Rose Petals and Apples Scholarship Fund

The first scholarship I’m featuring is the Rose Petals and Apples Scholarship Fund, which is a fund of The Paso Del Norte Community Foundation that was created to empower single mothers who aspire to become educators.

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This scholarship honors the life of Rosella Tellez Madrid. Rosella began as a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother, pouring into her three children and anyone in her community who needed support. She gave what she could including clothing, school supplies, encouragement and always led with generosity.

In her mid-thirties, she made the courageous decision to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. She earned her degree from University of Texas at El Paso and began teaching 5th grade at Scottsdale Elementary. At 38, as a single mother, she returned to school once again but this time to pursue her Master’s in Education at New Mexico State University.

While working toward her Master’s, Rosella was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and given just 2–5 years to live. But she was still determined to complete her degree. In May 1999, she walked across the graduation stage with a cane and a powerful image of strength, courage, and unshakable commitment.

Rosella’s time was cut short, but her legacy wasn’t

On the 20th anniversary of her passing, the Rose Petals and Apples Scholarship Fund was launched in her memory. Today, it supports single mothers pursuing their dreams of becoming educators. Women who, like Rosella, are balancing responsibility, resilience, and ambition.

To every woman carrying both dreams and challenges at the same time this spotlight is for you. Your perseverance matters. Your education matters. And your story could inspire generations.

The Rose Petals and Apples Scholarship Fund Requirements

Applicants for this scholarship must be a single mother studying to become a teacher. Applicants must live in the El Paso area and have a GPA of 2.75 or higher.

Current majors can include Education, Special Education, Secondary Education, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, or Higher Education and Administration.

The application deadline is Friday, April 3rd. If you would like to apply for this scholarship click the link below.