Women in Successful Entrepreneurship • DFW 501(c)(3)
WISE Scholarship Program
Investing in the next generation of entrepreneurial women — because every future business leader deserves a foundation to stand on.
Empowering Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs
The WISE Scholarship was created to support high school students in the Dallas–Fort Worth area who have a passion for entrepreneurship and the drive to build something meaningful. We believe the spark of an entrepreneur deserves to be nurtured early — and that financial barriers should never stand between a young woman and her ambitions.
Building the Next Generation of Women in Business
WISE members are seasoned entrepreneurs, professionals, and business leaders who know firsthand how transformative the right support can be. This scholarship is our commitment to paying that forward — investing in young women who are ready to lead.
Eligibility Requirements
Areas of Focus & Interest
We welcome applicants with a wide range of entrepreneurial interests. Strong candidates often demonstrate experience or passion in areas such as:
How to Apply
Review Eligibility & Gather Materials
Confirm you meet all eligibility requirements. Collect your unofficial transcript (including any college-level or dual-enrollment courses), request your two letters of recommendation, and prepare your three essay responses before you begin.
Complete the Online Application Survey
Click Apply Now to open the 3-step application survey. You will enter your personal information, education and career goals, and all three essay responses. No file uploads in this step — just your information and essays.
Upload Your Supporting Documents
After submitting the survey you will be directed to the document upload page. Upload your Resume / CV, two Letters of Recommendation, and your Unofficial Transcript. All three documents are required for your application to be considered complete.
Committee Review & Top Three Finalists
The WISE Scholarship Committee conducts a comprehensive review of all complete submissions. The top three finalists are then invited to a short Zoom interview with the Scholarship Committee, giving each candidate an opportunity to share their vision before the final recipient is selected.
Award & Recognition
The scholarship recipient is honored at a WISE event and receives their award directly. We celebrate your achievement with our full community of women entrepreneurs!
Please do not include photos, headshots, or identifying images anywhere in your essays or uploaded documents. All submissions are reviewed anonymously to ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation by the Scholarship Committee.
Application Requirements
The online survey is completed in three steps. All fields marked with an asterisk are required.
- Step 1 — Personal Information: Full name, email, phone, city, date of birth, high school, graduation year, and current GPA
- Step 2 — Education & Goals: Intended college, major, start term, career aspirations, entrepreneurial experience, and how you heard about WISE
- Step 3 — Essays: Three written responses (see Essay Requirements below)
You must be a current high school senior graduating this academic year from a school in the Dallas–Fort Worth area to be eligible.
All three essays are required and entered directly in the online survey. Take your time — we read every word.
Tell us about your entrepreneurial vision — where it came from, what you have already done, and where you are going. Address what entrepreneurship means to you, a business idea or venture you have pursued, how higher education will support your goals, and how this scholarship will make a difference.
Describe your plans for post-secondary education and how your chosen field of study connects to your long-term career and entrepreneurial aspirations.
Describe your involvement in your school, community, or a cause you care about, and how that experience shapes your character and values as a future entrepreneur.
No Photos or Images. Do not include photos, headshots, or identifying visuals anywhere in your essays. All submissions are reviewed anonymously by the Scholarship Committee to ensure a fair evaluation.
Upload a current resume or CV highlighting your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, work or volunteer experience, and any entrepreneurial projects or business ventures. File formats accepted: PDF, DOC, DOCX. Maximum file size: 10MB.
Do not include a headshot or profile photo in your resume. All materials are reviewed anonymously.
Provide two letters of recommendation uploaded as separate files:
- Letter 1: From a teacher, school counselor, or administrator who can speak to your academic character and work ethic
- Letter 2: From a community leader, employer, mentor, or business professional who can speak to your entrepreneurial mindset and potential
Letters should be on official letterhead where possible. File formats accepted: PDF, DOC, DOCX. Maximum 10MB per file.
Submit an unofficial copy of your high school transcript showing all completed coursework and cumulative GPA. Please include any college-level or dual-enrollment courses taken during high school. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for consideration. File formats accepted: PDF, JPG, PNG. Maximum file size: 10MB.
The WISE Scholarship Award
Each year, WISE recognizes one outstanding applicant whose entrepreneurial spirit, academic achievement, and vision for the future embody everything our organization stands for. The recipient receives a financial scholarship award to support their higher education journey.
◆ Apply Now
Currently open to high school seniors only. As WISE grows and raises additional funds, we look forward to expanding this scholarship to college students in the future.
Take the First Step
Questions about the WISE Scholarship? Reach out to our Scholarship Committee and we’ll be happy to walk you through the process.