Cora Cade Lemmon Scholarship - Saint Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The Cora Cade Lemmon Scholarship represents the Power of Delta’s 22 Founders by awarding up to $1,000 for tuition, books, or living expenses to a current African-American female undergraduate student. This scholarship encourages women to continue a pursuit of excellence throughout their scholastic endeavors.

Cora Cade Lemmon received her undergraduate degrees in sociology and psychology from Alabama State University. She furthered her education with an advanced degree from the University of California, Berkley in the School of Library and Information Technology Management. Cora Cade Lemmon exhibits the five-point thrust throughout her life’s work through various accomplishments in her personal and professional life. She served on the original Board of the first Blackman Free Medical and Dental Clinic. She was Chairman of the Board of New Dimension in Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Board Member of the Commission on Mental Health for San Francisco, a charter board member of the first Big Sister organization in the US and Vice President of the International Cultural Exchange of San Francisco. As Chairperson of Social Action Commission for the San Francisco Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she represented the chapter at the National Caucus of a national boycott of one of the largest paper mills in the country. She was instrumental in building coalitions with corporations, civic and community organizations. Cora Cade Lemmon worked as a Child Welfare Social Worker with the St. Louis Department of Public Assistance, a Social Work Supervisor, Director of a Volunteer Program and a consultant with fortune 500 corporations in San Francisco. Her career experience ignited a passion for promoting corporate responsibility within the community. Her gratitude to Delta for being a significant part of her journey into womanhood instilled in her the importance of learning the history and spirit of our Sorority. She had become a part of the sisterhood of women of Character, Courage and Education; women who were leaders in the community and who were willing to develop leadership in others. Delta had nourished the seed planted in her during childhood to be a part of something greater than herself and to leave the community better than how she found it. An epiphany left her with a desire for a chapter that embodied the spirit of the 22 Founders, which ultimately became the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. where she became the first chapter president.

Eligibility Criteria

• Female
• African-American
• Current undergraduate student (attending a 4-year college/university, 2-year community college, trade school, apprenticeship program)
• 2.75 GPA or higher
• Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours)
• Current official transcript (through Fall/Winter 2024)
• 1 letter of recommendation from a professor or professional reference
• Minimum 500-word essay: Detailing how your current academic pursuits/career goals enable you to contribute to the betterment of your community in one of the areas of Delta Sigma Theta’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust (Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement)
• Completed at least 40 hours of community service in the last 24 months (verification letter must be on official letterhead with a supervisor’s signature)
• Resident of the St. Louis Metropolitan area – St. Louis city, the Missouri counties of St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, or Warren, and the Illinois counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, or St. Clair.

Letter of Recommendation/Service Verification Guidance

Letter of Recommendation: Needs to speak to: the length of time the recommender has known you; your personal characteristics and leadership skills/abilities; your achievements; and the public service activities in which you are/have been involved.
Service Verification: This should be an actual letter and not just a service log. Please ask the person supplying your verification letter to speak to the length of time you’ve been involved with the organization (noting exact # of volunteer hours) and the details of your involvement, including but not limited to: your roles/responsibilities, leadership skills, and impact.

Click here for a video explaining application do’s and don’ts

Each applicant is eligible for one scholarship from SLMAC during this current scholarship year. For information about applying for a scholarship, email the Scholarship Committee at scholarship@dstslmac.com.