CLINTON, Iowa, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford University is pleased to announce that, beginning in 2010, it will offer two annual online scholarships to victims of domestic abuse who are enrolled in the Clinton YWCA's Battered Women Program. The scholarships will cover full tuition, cost of books, application fees, and technology costs.

Consideration for the scholarship is available to any woman enrolled in the Clinton YWCA Battered Women's program and applications are available at the YWCA center. A university panel will select the scholarship awardees based on the strength of their application and essay. Ashford will offer an enrollment advisor to aid program members in the application process. The school will also dedicate an enrollment advisor and a financial aid advisor to each selected recipient once the scholarships are awarded.

"We are tremendously grateful to Ashford University. Many of the women in our program have been robbed of the ability to make choices in their lives, and this opportunity will empower them," said Linda Kranz, Crisis Services director at the Clinton YWCA. "This generous gift is something that will truly transform these brave women, not simply for the duration of their Ashford University education, but for the rest of their lives."

"Our mission at Ashford University is to make education accessible. Many of these women would not be able to attend a ground campus. These online scholarships will allow recipients to attend school in a safe environment of their choice," said Mitch Thomas, vice president of Ashford's Iowa Online Center.

"A generous group of Ashford employees have been involved with this great program for some time now - through holiday drives, gift card donations, food and clothing drives, and more. It is an honor to now be able to offer an education to these inspirational women," Thomas added.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations, at 858/513-9240 x2513.

SOURCE Ashford University

SOURCE: Ashford University

Web site: http://www.ashford.edu/