First Eight Scholarship for Women

First Eight Scholarship for Women

AmeriHealth Caritas is happy to announce the eight finalists for its First Eight Scholarship for Women. The scholarship was offered this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which was ratified on August 18, 1920, and gave women the right to vote.

More than 180 high school seniors applied for the scholarship. Each of the eight recipients met the following requirements:

  • A female Pennsylvania resident.
  • Accepted to a four-year college or university in Pennsylvania.
  • Maintained a high school GPA of 3.0 or better.
  • A U.S. citizen graduating high school by the spring of 2020.

The scholarship will provide each recipient $20,000 ($5,000 per year for four years).

Congratulations to the First Eight Scholarship recipients

  • Ama Aidoo
    Ama Aidoo is a graduate of Stroudsburg High School in Stroudsburg. She will attend Pennsylvania State University — Main Campus, to study pre-medicine.

  • Jasmine Garcia
    Jasmine Garcia is a graduate of Elizabethtown Area High School in Elizabethtown. She will attend Messiah University to study physical therapy. 

  • Katelyn Kruszewski
    Katelyn Kruszewski is a graduate of Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie. She will attend the University of Pittsburgh to study theater.

  • Sarah McCloskey
    Sarah McCloskey is a graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School in Fayette County. She will major in nursing at Pennsylvania State University — Main Campus.

  • Ashley Pfeffer
    Ashley Pfeffer is a graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia. She will attend Drexel University to study biology.

  • Lemiya Shaat
    Lemiya Shaat is a graduate of Kensington High School in Philadelphia. She will study physiology at Temple University.

  • Noeliz Soto
    Noeliz Soto is a graduate of Kensington High School in Philadelphia. She will attend Temple University to study digital forensics.

  • Mackenzie Zeigler
    Mackenzie Zeigler is a graduate of East Pennsboro Area High School in Enola. She will study nursing at West Chester University.

About the "First Eight"

On August 18, 1920, the nation ratified the 19th Amendment. The text of the amendment states, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

After the next election in 1922, eight women were sworn into the Pennsylvania General Assembly. As an organization that is proud of our inclusive and diverse workplace, we established the First Eight Scholarship for Women to honor those first eight women voted into the General Assembly.