In memory of founding members who have passed and who are greatly missed, Women In Focus establishes In Memoriam Named Scholarships. The students receiving these special scholarships each year are inspired to succeed by the lives and achievements of our founding members.
Dr. Virginia Henderson Scholarship
Please read our tribute to Dr. Henderson here.
Dr. Virginia Henderson’s legacy is celebrated with an annual memorial scholarship in her name. Dr. Henderson was instrumental in creating our organization in 1983. Under her leadership, Women in Focus created its lasting mission of encouraging students of color to succeed in education. This mission inspires the work of WIF as we continue to award our scholarships.
Camila Cruz is the 2025 recipient. She graduated from Madison West HS and plans to attend Madison College in the fall of 2025. Camila has been active with the Simpson Street Free Press for many years and she is now an editor helping younger kids learn to write.
Past Recipients
Dija Manly, 2019; Deniye Mitchell, 2020; Aliyah Brown, 2021; Mariam Chioma Achigbue, 2022; Gueda Daff, 2023; Sodik Gbadamassi, 2024
Ms. Gloria Jones-Bey Memorial Scholarship
Learn more about the life of Ms. Gloria Jones-Bey here.
The legacy of our founding member, Gloria Jones-Bey, is carried forth with an annual scholarship in her name. A nurse, administrator and educator, Gloria Jones-Bey was passionately dedicated to our organization working tirelessly to advance our mission, including spearheading the formation of our 501(c)(3), honing our mission and by-laws, serving in every leadership position.
Lina Arach is the 2025 recipient. Lina graduated from Madison East High School and plans to study nursing in the fall of 2025.
Past Recipients
Jared Biddle, 2017; Camille Miles, 2020; Chasity Collins, 2021; Jasmine Simpson, 2022; Mercedie Yang, 2023; Yarianie Rodriguez Tapia, 2024
Studesville Scholarship
Learn more about the life of Jane Studesville here.
Jan Studesville and her husband Al Studesville died in a tragic motorcycle accident on June 4, 2013. WIF awarded a scholarship in honor of Jan and Al that next year in April of 2014 and have continued that tradition every year, with funding by proceeds from the Ball or from the WIF Endowment at the Madison Community Foundation. Jan and Al were enthusiastic supporters of the WIF Endowment. Read more about the Endowment and how you can contribute on the Give page.
2025 Scholar Adrianne Farrow is attending UW Madison. Adrianne is a WIF continuing scholar.
2025 Scholar Keely Nelson-Gray is attending Madison College. Keely is a WIF continuing scholar.
Past Recipients
Taylor Kilgore, 2014; Rose Chujor, 2015; Umiama Muhammed Saed, 2016; Meshan Adams, 2017; Osman Darboe, 2018; Dora Aranda, 2019; Ngina Ali, 2020; Ebba Harrison, 2021; Amir Lee, 2022; Monel Zaria Antut, 2023; Sally Phelps, 2024
Rose Ann Brown
Learn more about Rose Ann Brown here.
Rose Ann Brown was a founding member of Women in Focus and active for 37 years. She believed deeply in our mission to encourage students of color to succeed in college with the support of scholarships. Her legacy is carried forth to remember her spirit, dedication, and humor with an annual scholarship.
The 2025 scholarship recipient is Yarielly Bautista Caballero. In 2025, Yarielly graduated from La Follette High School and plans to study at Edgewood or UW Milwaukee in the fall of 2025.
Past Recipients
Julian James, 2021; Anna Wang, 2022; Mateo Jimenez, 2023; Andy Li, 2024
Miss Annie Mae McClain Scholarship
From 2007-2018, WIF awarded a second scholarship to a returning student in honor of Miss Annie Mae. In 2007 Women in Focus, Inc. awarded the first Miss Annie Mae McClain Scholarship, funded with the proceeds of an auction of 77 wonderful hats owned by Miss Annie Mae McClain during her lifetime. The hats were generously donated to WIF by Miss Annie Mae’s son Joe McClain and his wife, former WIF member Carol Lobes. Both Joe and Carol felt that Miss Annie Mae would want her beloved hats to contribute to the higher education of young people of color.
James Watrous Gallery – Madison, WI
Prior to the auction, the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters worked with the Overture Gallery staff to beautifully display the 77 hats at the Overture Center and show the fascinating history of church hats. The exhibit appeared first in Madison and then traveled to Milwaukee in 2006. Two hats were donated by WIF to the Wisconsin State Historical Society, one that was purchased at the WIF auction by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Two additional hats were purchased by the Milwaukee Historical Society at the auction. The front page Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters magazine article and museum postcard about Miss Annie Mae’s hat will be included in the Time Capsule marking Madison’s 150th anniversary.
Learn more about Miss Anne Mae’s hats here.
Miss Annie Mae is featured in Crowns: Portraits of Black Women Church Hats by Michael Cunningham and in the Wisconsin Academy Review publication by Ruth Olson “Miss Annie Mae’s Hats: Church Hats from the Black Community”.