- Graduating high school seniors, who live in and attend high school in the 29-town Greater Hartford region
- Planning to attend a two- or four-year college/university
- Pursuing a career in the helping professions, including but not limited to social work, psychology, human services, and public health
- Goal and mission-oriented
- Demonstrated financial need
Mari Shinoda Merwin is a believer in the life-changing power of education. Her role model comes from her own family; in Japan in 1901, her great-grandmother founded the first school for young women in her prefecture. She was a widow and a mother (of one child), the school’s administrator, and an instructor for the 40 years it was open. Ms. Merwin can’t open a school but believes offering a scholarship helps all in the community. Ms. Merwin, a licensed professional counselor, has a master’s degrees in child psychology and psychiatric rehabilitation. She wants to assist students pursuing careers in the helping professions, including social work, mental health and substance abuse counseling, and public health. There is a shortage of people doing this work, which means those in need go longer without help.