Every recipient comes home with a story. These are theirs, in their own words — from a first glaciated summit in the Cascades to the Matterhorn's Hörnli ridge.

By Tiffany Diep, Matterhorn Class of 2026. Freshly post-op from a hip labrum repair, she was not cleared to walk without crutches when she applied.

Mercy Wanjiru carried her community up the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu — and what the mountains gave back.

A first glaciated summit in the Cascades, and the climb that proved it belonged to her too.

Ishinca, 18,143 feet, Peru — and a summit that reached further than she had let herself picture.

The highest peak in the Americas, and a Pakistani cyclist-turned-alpinist who refuses the word no.

What a rope team of strangers becomes by the time it comes off the glacier together.
By Tiffany Diep, Matterhorn Scholarship Class of 2026 When I applied for the Summit Scholarship, I was still freshly post op from a labrum repair of my hip. I wasn’t clea…
By Maria Bobrowski-Artola, Cordillera Blanca Scholarship Class of 2026 When I got the news… When I got the email from The Summit Scholarship Foundation that I was a recip…
Written by Mariam Elsharkawy, Summit Scholarship Rope Team Rising Recipient of 2026 Whenever I told people that I was going to climb a mountain, their shock was almost al…
This year, the Summit Scholarship Foundation expected to fund 12 scholarships. We're funding 14. Here's what happened. Applications for the 2026 cycle opened in December…
It Takes a Village: A network of organizations that support gender equity in the outdoors When the Summit Scholarship Foundation first took shape, we had no idea how many…
As you probably know by now, the Summit Scholarship Foundation is about more than just summiting peaks—it’s about capturing moments of courage and connection that ripple…
By Mercy Wanjiru, Summit Scholarship Class of 2024 Rediscovering Her Wild: From Nairobi to Salkantay Mercy came to the Summit Scholarship the way so many women do: with a…
By Amina Hasan, Summit Scholarship Class of 2025 On Finding Strength, Sisterhood, and Self on a First Mountaineering Expedition Writing this blog post has surprisingly be…
By Nana Nana, Summit Scholarship Class of 2025 A Possibility I Never Imagined If I were asked to describe my experience in Peru, I would use two simple words: life changi…
By Aubryanna Jarchow, Summit Scholarship Class of 2024 Last year, I joined an all-woman team of three guides and three other young women on Mount Baker for my first-ever…
Every year, the Summit Scholarship Foundation helps open doors that too often stay closed to women: doors to wild places, to transformative adventure, to the belief that…
Announcing the recipients of the Summit Scholarship is always a bittersweet moment. On one hand, we are ecstatic to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary women who wi…
Women face barriers that prevent them from participating fully in outdoor adventure, achieving recognition, or feeling like they truly belong. These inequities don’t just…
By: Tash Orellanos The week before the rafting trip began, I was traveling through Colorado, scoping out possible towns to move to in the coming years while feeling the i…
By: Carol Kimenya As I write this, it’s been a few months since my journey to Cordillera Blanca, Peru—my first mountain outside the continent of Africa. I’m now back in A…
Today marks an exciting milestone for the Summit Scholarship Foundation. As Executive Director of the Foundation, I am proud to announce our merger with The Cairn Project…
Samar on the summit of Elbrus. Samar, one of our 2024 Summit Scholarship recipients, is redefining what it means to be a trailblazer in every sense. Hailing from a small…
Aubryanna, one of our 2024 Summit Scholarship recipients, embodies the spirit of adventure and perseverance. Balancing a rigorous schedule of figure skating, dance practi…
Cheri, one of our 2024 Summit Scholarship recipients, is a passionate adventurer with a deep love for the outdoors. From her early family camping trips to her ambitious d…
Kasia, one of our 2024 Summit Scholarship recipients, is a passionate adventurer eager to connect with a community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. Kasia's journey beg…
Leo, one of our 2024 Summit Scholarship recipients, is an avid backpacker and backcountry enthusiast eager to connect with a community of like-minded and motivated advent…
Luna, one of our 2024 Summit Scholarship recipients, has been dreaming of adventures since she was little. But for Luna, an expedition to Mount Baker is more than just a…
Statement by the Board of Directors of the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation 501(c)(3) Gender equity on and off the mountain: that is the very essence of our mission here…
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Meet the 2021 Summit Scholarship recipients…
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