
St. Louis, MO, October 30, 2024 – Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) is pleased to announce a new memorandum of understanding with the University of Missouri- St. Louis (UMSL) that will increase access to higher education opportunities for Girl Scout members and staff, reinforcing the importance of post-secondary education. This memorandum of understanding agreement marks the third higher educational partnership since the historical launch under GSEM CEO, Dr. Natissia Small’s leadership this year.
Under this new agreement, UMSL will provide scholarships to Girl Scouts in the amount of $5,250 who enroll full-time as first-time freshmen beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, while waiving its application fee for Girl Scouts who apply. In addition, UMSL will also offer last dollar scholarship awards to Girl Scouts who have received a GSEM Changemaker Scholarship or the GSUSA Gold Award. In support of adult education, UMSL will provide a 15% tuition reduction for GSEM staff members, who enroll part-time in undergraduate and graduate programs at the university.
“I am thrilled to establish an educational partnership with the University of Missouri – St. Louis to extend amazing educational and scholarship opportunities to eastern Missouri Girl Scouts and our staff,” said Dr. Natissia Small. “Education is the cornerstone of empowerment and this collaboration with UMSL signifies a pivotal step forward in our commitment to ensuring that Girl Scouts and staff are well equipped to become confident leaders that contribute to the global workforce and achieve lifelong success. UMSL’s commitment to accessibility and community engagement aligns seamlessly with the mission of Girl Scouts to make the world a better place.”
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri serving nearly 25,000 girls and 11,000 volunteers across 28 eastern Missouri counties, is dedicated to bridging the gap between K-12 education and post-secondary opportunities, while fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all involved. This new partnership will focus on creating tailored programs, workshops, and resources that promote academic success, leadership development, and personal growth.
“We are so pleased to be partnering with Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and working with Natissia and her team to support girls as they pursue their educational goals and position themselves for success in their futures,” UMSL Chancellor Kristin Sobolik said. “We know how passionate Natissia is about ensuring young people gain the tools and experiences they need to realize their full potential, and we hope this agreement will help Girl Scouts recognize and take advantage of all the opportunities we can offer them at UMSL.”