"We are a women's group, and any woman is aware of how much complication women's lives hold," said Judy Kay Bard, a member of the Elizabeth Hughes Society and chair of the Society's Women for Women Scholarship committee. "If we could help women get back to the education they wanted, the career they wanted and get them on that path, we want to help."

The Elizabethtown-based organization is offering a $1,000 scholarship to women who are age 25 or older and who reside in the Elizabethtown Area School District or Donegal School District. This is the fifth year the organization has provided the scholarship, Bard said. "There are a lot of scholarship opportunities out there for high school kids," she remarked. "This is specifically a scholarship for older women. This is for anybody age 25 or older who has dreams and desires that she hasn't had time to fulfill."

To apply for the scholarship, women need to fill out an application, available at the Elizabethtown Public Library, 10 S. Market St., or on the Elizabeth Hughes Society's Facebook page. "The application includes a 300-word essay that is about the applicant and two letters of recommendation," Bard stated. "The letters can be from a neighbor, a co-worker, a friend." Completed applications must be postmarked by Thursday, June 1.

The Elizabeth Hughes Society was established almost 100 years ago with a goal of starting a public library in Elizabethtown. The group currently meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 398 N. Locust St., Elizabethtown. "We have educational meetings, and we do a lot to support groups that we know will improve life in our community," Bard remarked. "We are a group of inquiring minds and a group who likes to make a difference."

She encourages anyone who is interested to come to a society meeting, and she hopes women who are going back to school will consider the scholarship. "Please apply," she said. "We'd be delighted to support you. And if we can't give you the scholarship this year, you can always apply again next year."

The winner will be notified by Friday, June 30. Scholarship payment will be made directly to the winner's school no later than Tuesday, Aug. 1. For more information, contact Bard at 717-431-6254 or bardjudykay@gmail.com.