Scholarship at a glance

Unlocking Education is a multi-year labor of love rooted in James Evans and Mary Ehring-Maldonado’s passionate belief that education should and can be accessible to anyone. In an effort to make this a reality, they began fundraising in 2024 to provide single-time scholarships to help incarcerated adults at Anamosa State Penitentiary pay for college courses.

Anamosa is the only prison in Iowa that does not allow students to use financial aid to apply for postsecondary education. Most prisons that offer Second Chance Pell grants to be used to pay for school only reserve the application for individuals with release dates within 5 years.

Eligibility

To qualify for this one-time scholarship, applicants must:

• Be incarcerated at Anamosa State Penitentiary

• Be approved by Anamosa State Penitentiary to participate in a college program

• Be accepted into or enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college program

• Provide 1 letter of recommendation from an administrator or mentor within their correctional facility that confirms the applicant is a good candidate for a scholarship (this can be their counselor or CORE group liaison)

• Participate in leadership or other groups while incarcerated

• Demonstrate a willingness and commitment to giving back to the community

Application Process

Scholars interested in applying must submit the Scholarship Application Form, personal statement, and supplemental essay by May 1, 2025. Winners will be announced and notified by May 19, 2024. All funds will be distributed directly to the school on behalf of the scholar. Recipients will be notified via O-mail, and designated contacts will be notified through their preferred method of communication.