USA Scholarships
Katherine F Lindquist Memorial SWE 2027 - $1,250
The Katherine F. Lindquist Memorial Scholarship 2027 remembers Kathy Lindquist, a civil engineer at the Tennessee Valley Authority and past Smoky Mountain Section representative who spent decades showing East Tennessee girls what engineering could look like. SWE endowed the memorial in 2014, and recent cycles list one award of about $1,250 for a female high school senior who resides in East Tennessee, carries at least a 2.5 GPA, and will enter a four-year college to study math, science, or engineering. Reviewers often favor students from the Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Johnson City areas, though the residency rule is regional rather than tied to one city. You file through scholarships.swe.org alongside other SWE funds when the portal opens, typically around December 1 with a mid-February deadline unless swe.org posts different dates for the 2027 intake.
What is the Katherine F. Lindquist Memorial Scholarship?
Kathy Lindquist spent her career at the Tennessee Valley Authority and her evenings introducing Girl Scouts to engineering long before STEM camps were trendy. When she died in 2005, the Smoky Mountain Section of the Society of Women Engineers kept her name alive through service projects, and in 2014 the section endowed a scholarship that still pays about $1,250 to one East Tennessee high school senior each cycle.
The rules are narrower than many national SWE awards. You need to live in East Tennessee, identify as female, and plan a four-year college path in math, science, or engineering with at least a 2.5 GPA. That GPA floor is deliberately reachable so girls who are curious but not yet valedictorians can compete. Reviewers still read your activities list for science fair work, robotics, or troop leadership that mirrors Kathy''s own volunteer streak.
Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Johnson City sit inside the heartland this fund knows best, yet the residency test is regional, not a single ZIP code lottery. File through scholarships.swe.org when SWE flips the portal on, usually in December, and aim for a mid-February upload window unless swe.org moves the dates. Pair this application with the Anne Shen Smith Endowed Scholarship if you will be a college sophomore or above in a later year, or the Supporting STEM Scholarship for another nationwide STEM option while you wait on senior-year decisions.
Eligibility
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✓Resident of East TennesseeThe Smoky Mountain Section limits this memorial fund to students who live in East Tennessee. Confirm your address against the section guidance on smokymountain.swe.org before you spend time on essays.
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✓Female high school seniorYou must be a female student in your final year of high school when you apply, planning to graduate before enrolling in college. SWE uses this fund to reach girls before they choose a major.
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✓Four-year college in math, science, or engineeringIntend to enroll full time at a four-year college or university majoring in math, science, or engineering. Community college transfer paths may still fit if your planned bachelor's degree stays in those fields.
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✓Minimum 2.5 high school GPAHold at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale on your high school transcript. SWE sets a lower bar here than on many national engineering scholarships, but strong STEM grades still help.
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✓Complete SWE scholarship applicationSubmit the online application on the SWE scholarships portal when the cycle is open. Smoky Mountain Section lists the SWE Scholarships webpage as the official entry point.
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✓Preference near Knoxville and Oak RidgeThird-party SWE listings note preference for applicants from Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Johnson City, and nearby communities. You can still apply from elsewhere in East Tennessee if you meet the residency gate.
Benefits
- Scholarship amount About $1,250 (one recipient)
- Use of funds First-year college expenses
- Smoky Mountain Section honor Named memorial award
- Renewability Not renewable
- Full tuition coverage Not offered
- Room and board stipend Not separate from award
Document checklist
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✓SWE online scholarship applicationRegister at scholarships.swe.org and complete the unified application, selecting the Katherine F. Lindquist Memorial Scholarship or allowing the system to match you to eligible funds.
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✓High school transcriptUpload a transcript showing at least a 2.5 GPA and coursework in math and science. Include senior-year classes in progress if the portal allows.
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✓Letter of referenceSWE scholarship applications typically require at least one reference from a teacher, counselor, or mentor who knows your STEM interests. Request the letter early so the portal email arrives before the February close.
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✓Resume or activities listHighlight robotics teams, science fair projects, Girl Scouts, SWE outreach events, and volunteer work that shows you stick with technical hobbies outside class.
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✓Essay or short answersAnswer SWE prompts about your path into math, science, or engineering. Tie your story to East Tennessee if you can, since the fund honors a local mentor.
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✓Proof of East Tennessee residencyHave a parent or guardian ready to confirm residency if reviewers ask during verification. School address alone may not satisfy a regional fund.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Katherine F. Lindquist Memorial Scholarship?
It is a Society of Women Engineers memorial fund endowed in 2014 by the Smoky Mountain Section to honor Kathy Lindquist, a TVA civil engineer and community volunteer. SWE typically awards about $1,250 to one female high school senior from East Tennessee who will study math, science, or engineering at a four-year college.
How much is the Katherine F Lindquist SWE scholarship worth?
Recent listings place the award at about $1,250 for one student per cycle. Investment returns on the endowment can shift the exact amount, so treat $1,250 as your planning figure until swe.org confirms the live stipend.
Who is eligible for the Katherine F. Lindquist Memorial Scholarship?
You must be a female high school senior who resides in East Tennessee, hold at least a 2.5 GPA, and plan to enroll full time at a four-year college in math, science, or engineering. Preference may go to students near Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Johnson City.
Do I need SWE membership to apply for the Lindquist scholarship?
Smoky Mountain Section criteria focus on residency and college plans rather than membership dues. Many SWE scholarships do not require membership, though joining can unlock additional funds in the same portal.
When is the Katherine F. Lindquist Memorial Scholarship deadline?
Applications run through scholarships.swe.org when SWE opens its annual cycle, usually around December 1 with a mid-February close. A recent cycle listed February 15, so plan for December 2026 through February 15, 2027 unless swe.org updates the calendar.
Can college students apply for the Katherine F Lindquist scholarship?
No. Smoky Mountain Section targets high school seniors heading into a bachelor's program. Current undergraduates should explore other SWE endowed funds at swe.org/scholarships/ that match class standing.
Is the Lindquist scholarship only for engineering majors?
Official criteria list math, science, or engineering majors at a four-year college. Pure math or science degrees qualify alongside traditional engineering programs if your intended major fits those fields.
Where do I apply for the Katherine F. Lindquist Memorial Scholarship?
Apply online at scholarships.swe.org when the portal is open. Program history lives on swe.org, and Smoky Mountain Section details appear at smokymountain.swe.org/scholarships/. Questions go to [email protected] or (312) 596-5223.
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