Photo by Joselyn King YWCA Wheeling advisory board members announced Wednesday the opportunity for residents there to apply for a scholarship to obtain post-secondary education. Pictured from left are Heather Lapp, director of operations at the YWCA Wheeling; retired chemist Christ Muroski; Heidi Kossuth, attorney; Niki Mullinix, certified financial planner with ASTYR Wealth; Lori Jones, executive director of YWCA Wheeling, and Liz Handzus, marketing and development director for YWCA Wheeling.

WHEELING — The YWCA Wheeling announced Wednesday a plan to offer scholarships and provide residents there a chance for post-secondary education.

The organization is seeking donors for a Hartford SMART529 scholarship established by the YWCA Wheeling. Residents approved for the scholarship would receive funds that could be used toward gaining an education in college or at a trade school – including the cost of tuition, books, clothing or a computer.

The idea came from YWCA Wheeling board member and retired chemist Chris Muroski, who believes the benefits are twofold.

First, the scholarship can help a resident to become a more marketable person and financially independent following their stay at the YWCA, she explained.

Secondly, donors not only contribute to another’s education by donating to the SMART529 program, but they also could be eligible to take advantage of tax incentives at both the federal and state level.

The ‘Y’ is a potential federal tax donation, while the SMART529 could provide an incentive at the state level, she explained.

Muroski suggests donors check with their accountants to determine what incentives are best for their financial situation.

“We need donations, and we need a good candidate,” she continued. “What the public needs to understand is that it is a process we’ve developed a process around. There’s documentation, and we have a team of ladies with a financial and legal background with experience managing the ladies here at the ‘Y.’ So we have all our bases covered.”

A second board member, attorney Heidi Kossuth, said the candidates will be vetted internally.

“We all want to see this program succeed,” she explained.

Niki Mullinix, a certified financial planner, explained the number of scholarships to be offered and their amounts have yet to be determined, as they will be based on the donations received to the SMART529 account.

“We are in the process of getting people to donate to the program and the SMART529 account,” she explained. “We are hoping to really grow this and have a pool of money that we will be able to share.”

Heather Lapp, director of operations at YWCA Wheeling, explained any resident of the YWCA – whether there for the emergency shelter, transitional housing or peer recovery support housing programs – is eligible for the scholarship.

“Everyone who is staying with us is eligible to apply for the scholarships,” she added.

Donations should be made out to the Hartford SMART529 Scholarship Program, then sent to the YWCA Wheeling where it will be placed in the SMART529 fund and disbursed at the appropriate time, according to YWCA Wheeling officials.

Those wanting more information should contact the YWCA Wheelng at 304-232-0511, or by email at development@ywcawheeling.org.