Scholarships Directory

The Cathie Waters Cardelucci Scholarship is named for Cathie Cardelucci, Beta Xi/UCLA. Cathie is part of a four-generation Greek family, with all family members crediting their respective fraternities and sororities for many of their accomplishments. Cathie is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Thetas, and hopes this scholarship will assist with college education access. Initiated in 1980, Cathie has held many Theta leadership positions over the years, including Theta Foundation vice president, alumnae chapter president, and advisory board chair (ABC). She has an infinite love for Theta ritual, helping initiate over 2,000 new members into our sisterhood. She strives to help her Theta sisters reach their fullest potential with the loving support and life-long friendship promised to each member at initiation.

The Deborah Bornmann Allen Scholarship is named for Debbie Allen, Delta Theta/Florida. Debbie’s late husband and son recommended she establish a scholarship in her name to recognize her many years of volunteering for Kappa Alpha Theta. Debbie wants the recipients of this scholarship to know how important it was for her to give back to Theta with both her time and treasure. This scholarship is meant to help those who need financial assistance and allow them the opportunity to work less and study more – as well as have the financial stability to remain in Theta. She hopes that they find happiness and a bond that lasts a lifetime, just as she has.

The Dinah Hampton McClymonds Scholarship is named for Dinah McClymonds, Alpha Omicron/Oklahoma. Dinah’s husband surprised her with this scholarship on her 60th birthday. She shared that this scholarship has been a wonderful source of pride and a yearly reminder of the importance of her Theta membership. Dinah has served as a Foundation trustee as well as in fundraising roles for four alumnae chapters. Through her service, she learned the importance of giving back to Theta, and she now tries to share that message with Thetas everywhere. Dinah wants recipients of this scholarship to stay dedicated to their goals in honor of the Thetas who came before them and supported their dreams.

The Dorothy Barbieri Memorial Scholarship is named for Dorothy Barbieri, Beta Eta/Pennsylvania. The scholarship was established by Alexis Barbieri, Dorothy’s daughter, in loving memory of her mother. Dorothy loved Kappa Alpha Theta. She started college in 1930, but did not have the financial means to continue after her first year and thus never graduated. She was a stalwart of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter and held many leadership positions in the chapter, including president. She was awarded their first ‘Outstanding Theta of the Year’ award. When Alexis became a Theta herself, Dorothy surprised her at initiation where Alexis was given Dororthy’s Greek name. In the spirit of her mother’s story, Alexis established this scholarship to uplift young Thetas in need of financial support during college so that they can finish their degree.

The Elizabeth Nagel Marcin Scholarship is named for Elizabeth Marcin, Delta Sigma/Ball State. Elizabeth’s journey to Theta membership is certainly unique! Alongside Linda Yanez, she started a sorority called Kappa Theta Rho at Ball State University, as they saw the need for another sorority for unaffiliated women on campus. That local sorority eventually became the Delta Sigma chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was initiated into Theta as an alumna in 1970 and knew she wanted to give back in any way possible. A farmer’s daughter who strived for a college education, she hopes that this scholarship opens doors for women who may not be able to afford the full college experience. Her favorite Theta tradition today is the annual celebration of Founders Day, during which she reflects on the perseverance that led to the establishment of Kappa Theta Rho – and eventually the Delta Sigma chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta.

The Elizabeth Sierk Corridan Scholarship is named for Elizabeth (Betsy) Corridan, Beta Omicron/Iowa. This fund was established in Betsy’s name to honor her many years of service to Kappa Alpha Theta upon her retirement as CEO. Betsy’s personal aspiration for Theta Foundation has always been to provide scholarships for all qualified members who apply. This scholarship is a way to come one step closer to that dream becoming a reality. Betsy believes that it is Theta Foundation scholarships that will continue the legacy our founders left in our hands. She hopes that recipients of this scholarship will be encouraged to continue to show up, even when showing up is difficult.

The Fight Family Scholarship was named for Lynn Jones Fight, Alpha Mu/Missouri, and Leslie Fight, Alpha/DePauw. The mother- daughter duo established this scholarship with the intent to assist Thetas who may be struggling financially during their college careers. They were inspired by Leslie’s own financial hardship as an undergraduate student who worked to pay her way through a four-year degree. Lynn served the Fraternity in many roles, including Grand Council Member at Large. With this scholarship, they hope to share Theta love through providing financial assistance for a sister in need so that she can make the most of her Theta experience.

The Glenna Maxey Goodacre Scholarship is named in memory of Glenna Goodacre, Beta Omega/Colorado College. This scholarship was created not only in remembrance of Glenna, but also to keep alive the link between Glenna’s Theta membership and the excellence she achieved as an internationally acclaimed sculptor. Glenna's excellence in the arts was magnified by the different experiences she had as a Theta. Glenna loved Colorado College and all it represented, including being a Theta. Her Theta sisters became some of her lifelong friends, whom she deeply cherished. The hope for this scholarship is to open up opportunities for Thetas to achieve their goals in preparing them for their chosen profession.

Gloria McVay Cochran, Beta/Indiana, is both the namesake and a founding contributor of this scholarship. Gloria’s Theta experience at Indiana University provided her with meaningful opportunities for growth and development and she treasured the encouragement and support of her Theta sisters. As a recipient of the Bettie Tipton Lindsey Founders Memorial Scholarship during her undergraduate career, she was inspired to give back and learned about the opportunity to establish a scholarship while serving as a Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation Trustee. Together with her husband, Richard, she established their scholarship to “pay forward” what she had received and to encourage young women pursuing higher education in psychology or medicine, the fields in which she and her husband built their careers.

The Founders Memorial Scholarships are Theta Foundation’s most prestigious awards, valued at $12,000 each. Awarded to the top four junior applicants every year, the recipients are intentionally matched with a specific founder based on their shared accomplishments and characteristics. Hannah was ranked first in her class during her freshman year at Indiana Asbury and was the first woman on the editorial staff for the school newspaper. Known as a motivator, she sustained and helped grow Kappa Alpha Theta after the other founders left Indiana Asbury.

The Harriet Fowler Brown/Kansas City Alumnae Chapter Scholarship was originally established by the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter in the early 1960s as the Kansas City Alumnae Scholarship. The name was changed in 1978 to honor a dedicated member of the chapter, Harriet Fowler Brown, Tau/Northwestern, whose contributions to Theta included endless time, leadership, energy, and financial support. As a reflection of the commitment to community shared by Harriet and the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter, the Harriet Fowler Brown/Kansas City Alumnae Chapter Scholarship is open to sophomore, junior, and senior members of Theta chapters in Kansas or Missouri or sophomore, junior, and senior members of any Theta chapter who are from the greater Kansas City area. A generous bequest in 2025 from Harriet’s daughter, Nancy Brown Davidonis, Beta lota/ Colorado (pictured with her mother in the late 1980s/early 1990s), nearly quadrupled the fund amount, thereby significantly increasing the amount awarded in subsequent years.

The Heather Anne Steen Scholarship is named for Heather Steen, Delta Nu/Arkansas. Heather was born and raised in Arkansas and cherishes the memories she has made with her Theta sisters. By establishing this scholarship, Heather intends to sustain a legacy of giving back to Theta, especially to members who need extra financial support, so that they may gain confidence in their knowledge and abilities. Heather recounts attending a Theta reunion in January 2020, at which attendees poured over each other’s treasured scrapbooks, bringing out many stories – and smiles.