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Stapleton Scholarship
New Stapleton Scholarship Supports Students Pursuing US Foreign Service Careers
American University is now accepting applications for the newly established Dorothy Walker Stapleton Scholarship Fund. This annual scholarship, funded through the generous support of AU alumnus Dorothy Walker Stapleton and Ambassador Craig Stapleton, will provide two $5,000 scholarship awards to AU students in the 2014-2015 academic year.
Eligible students must be enrolled in a graduate program at AU with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale). Selection preference will be given to female students aspiring to work in the United States Foreign Service or a related agency in the U.S. government upon graduation. Applicants must submit a maximum 300 word essay articulating how receiving the Stapleton Scholarship will help advance their academic and career goals. Application essays must include a heading with the following information: name, student ID, email address, cumulative GPA, degree seeking, and expected graduation (month/year). Essays should be saved with the file name of "Last Name.First Name.AUID.Stapleton" ex. "Smith.John.1234567.Stapleton."
Questions regarding the Dorothy Walker Stapleton Scholarship can be directed to Alexis Pazmino, Office of Development, School of Public Affairs, sparsvp@american.edu or 202-885-2660
About Dorothy Walker Stapleton
Mrs. Dorothy (Debbie) Walker Stapleton was born in New York City and grew up in West Hartford and Farmington, CT. She completed her matriculation at the American University where she earned a B.A. degree, with a major in communications and a minor in international relations.
Mrs. Stapleton began her career working for the MITRE Corporation (MIT Research & Engineering)-launching a library focused on environmental issues, then subsequently worked at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Communications Assistant to the Deputy Administrator. Following her marriage to Ambassador Craig Stapleton, she worked as an Executive Director for a small non-profit organization, Secondary School Chairmen-a consortium of chairmen of the Boards of Independent Schools in the Northeast.
As a mother of two active children, Walker and Wendy, Mrs. Stapleton made the choice to concentrate on her family and volunteer work. She worked in development of non-profit organizations such as: The United Way, AmeriCares, Youth Leadership Conference, and Greenwich Council on Youth and Drugs, of which she was co-Chairman for two years. In 1989, she began working as Finance Director, for Congressman Christopher Shays, leaving that job to introduce a program called KIDS VOTING, to CT school districts. Mrs. Stapleton went on to serve as the Finance Chairman of Bush-Cheney 2000 for Connecticut, and in 2004, she received the highest honor for service to the Republican Party, in the state of Connecticut-The Prescott S. Bush Award.
Mrs. Stapleton joined her husband, Ambassador Craig Stapleton, in representing the United States in the Czech Republic, from 2001-2003. During her tenure, Mrs. Stapleton focused her efforts on fundraising for Czech non-profits that benefited children, the handicapped, and the elderly. It is noted that Mrs. Stapleton's passion for gardening was realized in her restoration of the Prague Embassy residence gardens.
Mrs. Stapleton and her husband served a second diplomatic post in France from 2005-2009. There she forged close alliances, raised funds and developed program ideas for many American groups including: the American Cathedral, the American Library, the American Hospital, and the American Museum in Giverny. In 2009, Mrs. Stapleton received the Ben Franklin Award from the U.S. Mission Paris, France, for service to the embassy employees and their families. That same year, she authored a book, "Elegant Entertaining: Seasonal Recipes from the American Ambassador's Residence", and was awarded the Dame de L'Honneur Award from the Academie Culinaire de France, in 2011.
Currently, Mrs. Stapleton serves on the boards of the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, FL, the International Advisory Board of the Mona Bismarck American Center for Art and Culture in Paris, France, and the Carlisle Foundation in Kennebunk, ME.