Thirteen women across the Diocese of North Carolina will be in class this school year thanks in large part to the fact they’ve been awarded Lex Mathews Scholarships.

The Diocesan ECW administers and helps finance the Lex Mathews Scholarship program, begun more than two decades ago by family and friends of the Rev. Lex Mathews, who at the time of his death headed the diocese’s office of Christian Social Ministries. It is geared toward women of the diocese, age 23 and older, seeking either specialized training in vocational or technical skills, a degree or certification below the masters or doctorate level, or continuing education courses for upgrading job skills.

The scholarships, awarded annually in the spring, are an effort to help women, many of whom are solely responsible for their families, to achieve self-sufficiency by getting the education necessary to enter or reenter the workforce. Preference is given to Episcopalians or someone sponsored by an Episcopalian.

Lex Mathews Scholarship recipients for the 2009-2010 school year are:

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The recipients of Lex Mathews scholarships stay in touch with the Diocesan ECW throughout their time in school, and many continue to communicate with us even after they've moved on to other phases of their lives. The stories differ but the goals are the same: Self-reliance, self-respect and meaningful work. Here is what some of these women have had to say about the scholarships:

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