Wylie, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/02/2015 -- The WAAW foundation scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit in a field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math disciplines and demonstration of financial need.

WAAW awards scholarships of $500 for African women who have gained undergraduate admission to an institution of higher learning in Africa and are studying a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related course. This one year scholarship will cover the cost of tuition, fees and course materials.

The following 4 women have been chosen from over 1,240 applications received from 34 countries of origin:

- Nanjala K. Rabaccah, from Kenya, is studying Civil Engineering at the University of Nairobi. Nanjala plan to venture into petroleum and water resources management and real estate development.

- Genet Melaku, from Ethiopia, is an orphan studying Civil Engineering at the Mekelle University. Her goal is to contribute to solutions for the continuing challenges prevailed in Ethiopia's construction sector by introducing standardized urban development plans and saving resource wastages

- Judith Ogbonezim, from Nigeria, is studying Mathematics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukkah. Her future ambition is to be a Mathematics Scholar. She intend to leave her foot prints in her country by setting up a Mathematics foundation Centre with global recognition in order to promote the study of Mathematics and assist the less privilege.

- Mektrida Patrick, from Tanzania, is studying Electrical Engineering at the St. Augustine University of Tanzania. Her goal is to innovate and create solutions to Power problems in Africa.

As part of the scholarship requirements, each of these girls will be a part of our STEM Cell Fellows that will initiate STEM Cell Units in various Secondary schools in their home country; this is an opportunity for the girls to also give back to their communities and start encouraging other young women to consider and remain in STEM Education.

Dr. Unoma Okorafor the Founder and Chief Executive of WAAW Foundation, in a message to the young women said, "You have worked hard to reach where you are in your STEM education. WAAW Foundation is here to support your ambitions and ensure that your dreams are materialized and will open opportunities in encouraging your innovations in the STEM field."

WAAW Foundation believes that female education and STEM innovation are key drivers for economic development of any region. Our overarching objective is to elevate the standards of STEM education among female Africans, and eliminate the huge disparity between the numbers of boys versus girls entering STEM related careers in Africa. WAAW works in the entire African sub region to promote its objectives, with specific presence in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. Our programs are geared towards building STEM capacity among African girls and promote African innovation, and include Scholarships for college Girls in STEM disciplines, STEM camps for girls ages 11 through 15 and STEM Cell Initiatives to benefit secondary school girls. "The scholarship program was designed to foster and encourage financially need-based female students to continue to pursue careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math." said Ebele Agu, WAAW foundation Vice president.

About WAAW Foundation
Since its first award in 2012, the foundation has bestowed 17 scholarships worth approximately 8500 dollars. The foundation plan to award about 10 scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year.

To learn more about the Scholarship program, visit our website at http://waawfoundation.org/scholarships/