Through her education and career experience, Shirley Miller Carpenter has developed a strong belief in the power of education and in the potential of every individual. She understands that students face many challenges in seeking a college degree. To that end, she established this scholarship to encourage students from her hometown to believe in themselves, imagine possibilities, and work toward making those possibilities into a reality.

Math and science have been Shirley Miller Carpenter’s favorite subjects since she was a student herself. Shirley attended Syracuse Elementary and Racine High schools, taking classes required for college prep, despite not knowing how she would later afford tuition. After graduation, she moved to Columbus and worked full-time for two years before enrolling at The Ohio State University. Even as a full-time student, Shirley worked part-time until she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

Since then, Shirley thoroughly enjoyed a 35-year career as an educator, specializing in middle school math and science. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in that field. When Shirley took her first full-time job, she worked with printouts from a computer that took up an entire room. Now, computers are small enough for people to carry smartphones in their pockets. As a teacher, Shirley introduced thousands of students to exciting advancements in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Her appreciation for the impact of her education in her own life helped her inspire students to believe in their own potential.

The scholarship is specifically intended to assist young women as they seek degrees in STEM fields, because women have long been underrepresented in these exciting fields.