Top 6 Reasons You Should Apply for WCAA's 2020 Jill Robson Scholarship!

Attention all business owners, creatives, designers, and technicians! All go-getters, motivators, movers and shakers! We have exciting news. WCAA is pleased to announce the Jill Robson Memorial Scholarships for 2020. This year, there are two scholarships being awarded. Our New Member Scholarship will be awarded to a WCAA Member with less than three years of experience and our Member Scholarship will be awarded to a WCAA Member with more than three years of experience.

So…why does this matter to you? Funny you should ask!

We could go on forever talking about all the reasons we think you should apply for the 2020 Jill Robson Scholarship, but we may be a bit biased. Instead, we decided to partner with our dear friend Ceil DiGuglielmo to go directly to the source.

On her Sew Much More podcast, Ceil spoke personally to past winners of the scholarship, getting their take on the application process, the things they experienced as scholarship winners, and what advice they have for those who are still on the fence.

So, without any further ado, these are the Top 6 Reasons You Should Apply for WCAA’s 2020 Jill Robson Scholarship, directly from those who have been in your shoes before.

1. You’ll Gain Self-Awareness

When Ceil spoke with Mary Beth Warner, the 2018 recipient of the Jill Robson Scholarship, about the application process, she told us that she definitely had her opinions on the matter…she’d actually applied for the scholarship twice!

Though she wasn’t chosen the first year she applied, Mary Beth wasn’t deterred from applying again the following year. In her opinion, “It’s worth it every time.”

By taking the time to fill out the scholarship application and asking others to assist you by providing a letter of recommendation, you’re putting yourself (and your business) in a position of vulnerability. We know that vulnerability can be hard — it’s not easy setting yourself up to be judged, critiqued, or commented on! However, we also know that in vulnerability, we also find our strength.

Mary Beth describes her experience with the application process in a similar way. “I felt like completing the application was a success in and of itself; it caused me to reevaluate where I was in my personal and professional life, and I grew because of it.”

2. You’ll Build Confidence.

The good news about putting yourself in a vulnerable position, is that sometimes it sets us up to receive praise we didn’t know was coming!

When we asked Joyce Crockett, previous recipient of the Jill Robson Scholarship, what the biggest benefit of the award was to her, she didn’t have to think twice. In her words, “The biggest benefit from applying and winning was my increased confidence. It just soared. When I found out I won, I said ‘Me??’, and they just said ‘Yes, You!’ I was simply overjoyed.”

Even during Joyce’s application process, she experienced a surprising boost of confidence through the (often dreaded) task of asking for a letter of recommendation. An instructor of hers, upon learning she was interested in the scholarship, offered to write her a reference letter. Joyce expected to feel relief at the task having been completed, but she didn’t expect to feel moved by the letter she’d receive. “Her words were so gracious and kind, and I was so touched by her support. It was absolutely awesome to read!”

Jean Lawes, 2017 recipient of the Jill Robson scholarship, had a similar experience. She says the boost to her confidence is a feeling that she still has held onto today. Jean told us “…due to the confidence I gained through benefits from the Jill Robson Scholarship program, I hold my head up now. I declare that I am the Owner of a professional Custom Soft Furnishings Workroom. It is no longer a hobby venture.”

3. You’ll Build Life-Long Relationships.

When we asked Mary Beth more about her experience with the scholarship, she told us a lot about the benefits she enjoyed as a winner. One of the more surprising benefits, she says, was “the people part.” Mary Beth had a great time meeting people in the industry. “I attended the Custom Workroom Conference, and it was fabulous. Everyone there was kind and generous with their time and knowledge. Without winning the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to attend.”

Jean seemed to echo Mary Beth’s sentiment towards the camaraderie she gained as a scholarship recipient. While recalling her experience at a Valley Forge conference, Jean says “I’m thinking to myself… ‘I’m not supposed to be here.’ But then I took a few courses, and I had found my people. I was on such a high.”

By receiving the Jill Robson Scholarship, Mary Beth and Jean were able to meet industry professionals that they might not have ever crossed paths with before. Today, Mary Beth and Jean still work closely and learn from those they met after winning the award.

4. Educational Opportunities to Grow Your Business and Skill

When you think of the word “scholarship,” chances are, the word “education” comes to mind.

The mission of the scholarship fund is to encourage and equip business owners in the Window Coverings Industry by supporting their education and providing foundational learning opportunities to promote professionalism in the industry.

That being said, it’s no wonder why the educational opportunities our scholarship winners pursue are some of the most valuable experiences gained through the process. Often times, we find ourselves at a point in life where we’ve seemed to stop learning. We’ve stopped experiencing new things, we’ve stopped seeking out new skills, and we’ve stopped growing as a result. These obstacles can take many forms: children, spouses, age, energy, work schedule, and more often than not, money.

The Jill Robson Scholarship presents recipients with an opportunity to take a chance and invest in themselves and their careers by providing funds specifically designated for just that.

According to Susan Sifakis, one of the 2019 scholarship winners, “I was encouraged to apply because of the money. There were a few things I wanted to do that I knew I couldn’t realistically budget for.” Another recipient, Joyce Crockett, says the scholarship paid for her tuition-in-full to Chattahoochee Tech!

5. Gain Credibility and Visibility.

With any award comes the opportunity to showcase your skills. For 2019 Scholarship Winner, Patti Ayers, she says adding credibility to her business was a huge perk.

“Being a new business, I needed to get my name out there. When I won the award, I listed it on my LinkedIn, my website, my social media…it gave me an edge from other new businesses and showed people that I was serious about what I do.”

Jean, on the other hand, simply refers to her newfound visibility as her “stardom.” To this day, Jean is thrilled to be featured on podcasts and in articles by industry Influencers that she admires and respects.

Sue says this visibility goes both ways. Without having been awarded the scholarship, she would’ve never taken local classes in upholstery – something she wasn’t very involved in before. To gain the ability to collaborate and work closely alongside people she wouldn’t have had the chance to previously was eye-opening and inspiring.

6. Furthering Jill’s Vision.

Above all else, this scholarship is about honoring the life and legacy of Jill Robson. Jill Robson was a light in the window coverings industry. As a drapery workroom, educator, and connector, Jill was an advocate of education and always looked for opportunities to further her knowledge in the window coverings industry.  She always entered a room with a smile and a quiet word of encouragement. Jill was a voice of reason and loved to share ideas. We honor her, her memory, and her contribution to the window coverings industry with these scholarships. 

But honoring Jill isn’t just important for those of us awarding the scholarships…it’s important for those awarded the scholarship, too.

When asked about Jill, Susan was excited to participate in something that is keeping Jill’s story alive. “More people are learning about Jill and what she did. People that might not have heard of her before. I’m so happy we have something that reminds us of Jill every year and keeps her legacy alive.”

Scholarship winner Jean discovered Jill before she had heard of the scholarship in her honor. Jean says Jill’s course was a great road map for getting her business together, and much of the advice Jill gave in that course echoes in her mind today.

Like other winners, Patti had watched several of Jill’s seminars. “I understood what was important to her, and it resonated with me. When considering the scholarship, I thought… ‘why not?’ It’s a great opportunity and I had nothing to lose.”

So, What’s Holding You Back?

As you can see… we’re all pretty excited about the scholarship. Everyone who has been involved with Jill, her vision, and the fund have been inspired and motivated to grow their careers like never before.

2020 is the start of brand-new decade, full of opportunities and experiences that have the potential to change your life and fulfill your dreams. Are you willing to take the steps necessary to make it happen?

Jean, Joyce, Patti, Mary Beth, and Susan all did… and they’ve never looked back.

You owe it to yourself to take the chance. You won’t regret it!

Apply today by clicking here.

Special thanks to Ceil DiGuglielmo for sharing her conversations with us, and thanks to all of the previous scholarship winners who shared their experiences! Listen to the full podcast here.