BELLA ELLA BOUTIQUE 2020 EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

 Overcoming adversity is an important part of who we are at Bella Ella Boutique. Alisha Groo, our founder, started Bella Ella as a single mother in an effort to provide a stable living for her small family. The following few years were filled with her fair share of challenges as she navigated the waters as a new mother, business owner, and trying to make ends meet (you can read the full story here). Her inspiring story provides us with the framework for the Bella Ella Boutique 2020 Empowerment Scholarship.

It's our time to give back. In 2020 we will celebrate the accomplishments of women, like Alisha, by awarding a $2,500 scholarship to one who has overcome countless obstacles to work towards her dreams.

We wanted you to tell us your story. Who are you? What challenges have you overcome? How have your challenges empowered you to achieve more? What do you hope to become? How will you education help you to get there? How would this scholarship help you to achieve your dreams?

To apply for the Bella Ella Boutique 2020 Empowerment Scholarship each applicant created a video to answer the questions above. They posted their video to Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube and tagged @bellaellaboutique with the hashtag #BEB2020scholarship.

We had an overwhelming number of submissions to our scholarship this year. As a result, it took us much longer than anticipated to process through every applicant. We spent countless hours reviewing each and every applicant, listening to everyone's story. We appreciate everyone that took the time to apply, and wish we could provide a scholarship to many more individuals. We heard so many inspiring stories of dedicated individuals who have overcome great adversity to get to where they are today. Thank you again to all those that applied.

Selecting the winner was tough! In the end, one applicant stood out to us; Ivy Marie Kellenberger of Newton, New Jersey.

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Ivy is a twenty year-old single mother, survivor of domestic violence, dedicated college student, and a future teacher! She is passionate about education and raising her beautiful daughter. Throughout all of her trials she has persevered and now hopes to help students realize the true potential they hold within themselves as a future middle school or high school teacher.

Thank you Ivy! We appreciate your positive attitude and passion for helping others. We congratulate you in being selected as the 2020 Bella Ella Boutique Empowerment Scholarship recipient. We look forward to you finishing your education and seeing you give back to your community.