Scholarships for Writers
The Rehoboth Beach Writers' Guild was fortunate to have two fabulous members who loved the Guild and shared their talents with us. We are further fortunate that their loved ones have generously remembered these writers by funding Guild scholarships in their names. Scroll down if you would like to apply for a scholarship, or if you would like to donate to the scholarship fund, in general, or as a memorial to one of these terrific women. But be sure to read about Harriet Leasure and Jane Bender as we are certain they will touch your heart as they have ours.
Harriet Leasure
Harriet Leasure became an active member of the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild. She made it a place to focus her love of words, talk about books, and write. She wrote well enough for publication but what mattered to Harriet was the sharing of the story—with her classmates, at a monthly reading, and ultimately, she wanted to collect her writings into a memoir for her grandchildren. Harriet was the third of three “Hattie’s.” The fourth, a granddaughter named “Hattie,” was to have been the audience—“the story of the Hattie’s for Hattie” she often said. Her prose was often humorous—we all remember Harriet’s laugh—but her writing never shied away from hard, raw, truths that made an impression on those lucky enough to be in the audience when she was reading. After she died, guild members who hadn’t had the pleasure of knowing Harriet well often commented on something specific she had written—her words mattered; they resonated, they touched people. As Harriet did and does. The Harriet Leasure Scholarship is the Guild’s way of celebrating, remembering and honoring all that Harriet brought to this organization: enthusiasm, passion, generosity, a willingness to take risks, and yes, financial support. We hope to share with other writers the generosity that Harriet brought to us. |
Jane Bender
After her retirement as a clinical social worker, Jane Bender joined the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild where she took classes in memoir, fiction and poetry. In her writing, as was true in her life, she fought against prescribed rules and norms—against putting anything into a neat box. Instead, she appreciated the paradoxes she observed, and wove them into her writing. In writing poetry, Jane was able to clarify and distill her journey of confronting the indignities of her seven-year battle with cancer, which she did with inspiring courage and perseverance. Her poems, threaded with her wry wit and wisdom, reveal how Jane found ironies and nuggets of truth amid an arduous and life-changing experience. Throughout her illness, Jane never lost her compassion and concern for others, remaining a welcoming presence to all who encountered her. At the end, as she faced and accepted her mortality, she kept her quality of spaciousness and abundance, radiating grace and serenity. She retained her exquisite sense of humor as she tried to comfort those around her. With her twinkling smile, she said, “I’ll be waiting for you on the moon.” The Divine Feminine: An Anthology of Seaside Scribes contains a poem written by Jane as well as a trilogy of poems in her honor. Initial sales of that book were donated to the Writers Guild in her name—the start of the Jane Bender Scholarship Fund. Her husband Steve and their five children, their spouses, and children are honored by the tribute to Jane’s life and generosity of spirit. |
Apply
Scholarships are available to help members of the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild. To apply for a scholarship, email (no longer than 400 words) Maribeth at fischer.maribeth@gmail.com telling us about who you are as a writer and why taking a guild class is important to you. We don't require a list of past publications or writing experience, we are more interested in your passion and enthusiasm for words and writing. If you are working on a specific project, feel free to share that as well.
Applications (letters) due by October 15
Scholarships will cover the cost of any class of your choosing and must be used within a year of receiving the scholarship. The number of scholarships awarded each year will be based on the amount of funds available. To date–due to the enormous generosity of our members, RBWG has awarded 7 scholarships in 2015, 9 scholarships in 2016, and 10 scholarships for 2017.
Scholarships are available to help members of the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild. To apply for a scholarship, email (no longer than 400 words) Maribeth at fischer.maribeth@gmail.com telling us about who you are as a writer and why taking a guild class is important to you. We don't require a list of past publications or writing experience, we are more interested in your passion and enthusiasm for words and writing. If you are working on a specific project, feel free to share that as well.
Applications (letters) due by October 15
Scholarships will cover the cost of any class of your choosing and must be used within a year of receiving the scholarship. The number of scholarships awarded each year will be based on the amount of funds available. To date–due to the enormous generosity of our members, RBWG has awarded 7 scholarships in 2015, 9 scholarships in 2016, and 10 scholarships for 2017.
Donate
You can donate by sending a check made out to RBWG (Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild) with the words “Harriet Leasure,” or "Jane Bender," or just "Scholarship" in the memo line of the check. We will acknowledge all donations with a letter specifying the amount of donation as well as information about the guild’s nonprofit 501c(3) tax exempt status. Address: Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild,
PO Box 1326, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
You can donate by sending a check made out to RBWG (Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild) with the words “Harriet Leasure,” or "Jane Bender," or just "Scholarship" in the memo line of the check. We will acknowledge all donations with a letter specifying the amount of donation as well as information about the guild’s nonprofit 501c(3) tax exempt status. Address: Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild,
PO Box 1326, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971