Stella Stachura Sowal Memorial Scholarship

The Stella Statchura Sowal Memorial Scholarship was established in 2020, by Stella’s family to create a lasting legacy in her name.

Stella Stachura Sowal was an intelligent, hard-working woman who was a first generation Polish American who overcame many challenges in life. She valued education because she had to leave school after the 8th grade to work to help support the family of eight children. In the early 1900’s, that was common for the older children in a family.

Stella was a devoted mother who raised two girls alone after many efforts to keep her family together. She had a strong work ethic starting her day at 5:30 a.m. to work in a non-union plant that paid 1/5 the wages of union plants because that was all that was available to women with a limited education. It also meant that her daughters had to perform household chores. There was never extra money for the latest conveniences; staying out of debt and helping her daughters get an education were priorities. She conveyed that life would be better for her children with an education or training. Stella was generous with her time helping family and friends, and she was an expert craftswoman who put love into every stitch.