Drumroll please: Introducing the 2023 Summit Scholarship recipients

March is always an exciting and simultaneously gut-wrenching time of the year at the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation. Why? Because that’s when we face the impossible task of choosing an unmanageably small pool of scholarship recipients amidst the hundreds of strong applications from qualified women that the Summit Scholarship program receives each year. The 2023 selection round was particularly tough: not only did we lower the age limit for applicants from previously 18 years of age down to 14 for some of our scholarships; we also changed the format of the application itself, which resulted in even higher quality applications than in past years. We saw some 535 applications from 39 different countries, representing women from 13 to 63 years old.

As in past years, the Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by the generous and steadfast contributions of our partners and contributors, most notably Nite Ize, The Cairn Project, Lucy Westlake, Jeannette McGill, LOWA, LEKI, ExpedUSA and AWExpeditions. In addition to saying a hearty THANK YOU to all the brands and individuals who are behind the Summit Scholarship, we also want to take a moment to acknowledge the special commitment of three of those partners: The Cairn Project, Lucy Westlake, and Jeannette McGill. As so-called Everest Patrons they each are providing funding of $10,000+ and, through their commitment, single-handedly made possible this year’s Youth Scholarships and the Ishinca & Tocllaraju Scholarship for African women. If you are a fan of what the Summit Scholarship is trying to accomplish please give Jeannette, Lucy and the Cairn Project (and our other sponsors!) a follow and leave a comment to say ‘Thank you’ for their commitment to advancing gender equity in the mountains!

Now, back to the 2023 Summit Scholarship cohort! The decisions that we made over the last month have not been easy, and we are proud to now introduce to you the eight outstanding women and girls who jointly are the recipients of the 2023 Summit Scholarship: Alyssa, Ava, Callihan, Charisse, Elaine, Kathlego, Maggy, and Mendo.

Mendo Sherpa, 18

“I’m eager to be a part of this all-women’s team expedition because in many communities–not only the climbing community–women don’t get the same opportunities as men. It's frustrating knowing that you can do so much more, yet you can't because the system doesn't allow it. I’m excited to participate in an expedition that supports and empowers other female climbers as I grow and learn. It’s important to recognize that experiences within the community may vary for different women and that more work needs to be done to ensure that all climbers are able to participate and thrive in an inclusive, equitable environment.”

Mendo will be joining AWExpeditions on Mount Baker.

Margaret Gathungu, 36

“I cried tears of joy tears of feeling my hiking was making a turn that I never believed possible. It’s still sinking in that this is real. 

I have never hiked outside the African continent. Stepping on one of the seven summits outside Africa is an opportunity that I have never envisioned; the costs; travel and guiding fee have always been so intimidating that even dreaming of it seems like an impossibility. This scholarship has reignited the mantra that our dreams are valid. I have now gotten a nudge to wonder at mountains far and wide and to believe that it is possible to see, hike and climb them.”

Maggy will be joining AWExpeditions for the Australian Alpine Academy.

Katlego ‘Thale’ Letheo, 41

“I grew up in South Africa and when apartheid laws changed, I was 12, and became one of the first black students to attend a previously white school. The exposure to how the “other” enjoyed the freedom of the hills, the outdoors etc... started then, and it was fun, and I wanted to be a part of it. But I was the ONLY for so long that I decided that the only way to change the algorithm was to start a movement to diversify the outdoors. My non-profit organisation, Afrika Freedom Climbers, was registered as a result.”

Thale will be joining AWExpeditions in Peru for Ishinca & Tocllaraju

Elaine Ponce, 25

“I am of indigenous mezoamerican descent and work in my time outdoors towards connecting others with the land, much like my mother taught me to hold the land in high regard. My dream is for rematriation of our lands, where every person is a steward of the spaces we share outside, and where we can work together to have our spaces free of misogyny, racism, transphobia, homophobia, abelism, and bigotry.”

Elaine will be joining AWExpeditions for the Paria Backpack.

Charisse Surio, 29

“Mountaineering and outdoor recreation in general are predominantly white spaces, and I've often felt an "otherness" while pursuing my outdoor expeditions. It feels bittersweet to feel so elated while tackling summits in the mountains, only to be juxtaposed with the isolating experience of being one of the few brown people around on each adventure.”

Callihan will be joining AWExpeditions on Mount Baker.

Callihan Johnson, 17

“As a young girl on the mountains - I often felt alone on the mountain. People were often shocked when they saw me, and often believed it was unsafe for me to be on the mountain. It was frustrating that people often believed that I was too young to be starting my dreams. Being a woman just elevated this to another level, and it was frustrating at time to feel that I had to justify my dreams.”

Callihan will be joining AWExpeditions on Mount Baker.

Ava Keniston, 14

“Especially at the beginning of my life journey as a woman, it would be an honor to join other strong, independent women on this monumental journey. The community that is sure to be formed through mental and physical challenge is not something I can access in my "regular" life. I want to push myself harder than I ever have before by stepping outside of my teenage girl life in America and striving to challenge body, mind and spirit.”

Ava will be joining AWExpeditions on Mount Baker.

Alyssa Bruce, 27

“Regularly getting mistaken for a +1 or being asked where the rest of my group was when I've had such a hard time creating that kind of group is exhausting. I want the mountains to be a place where everyone can experience the beauty that's out there without barriers, and so far gender equity continues to lag behind.“

Alyssa will be joining AWExpeditions on Kilimanjaro.

Please join us in congratulating these eight women - we are thrilled for the journey they are embarking on. You’ll have the chance to get to know all of them on a more personal level over the course of the next year as they pursue their Summit Scholarship adventures.

And if you, or someone you know, applied for the 2023 Summit Scholarship and is not among the recipients… we want to reiterate the message that we sent to all applicants prior to the announcement of our 2023 recipients:

By simply making your voice heard, you help pave the path for more women to follow in your footsteps. If this is something you dream about, please don't give up. As you follow along with our 2023 recipients and beyond, you'll notice that many have applied year after year. You also might notice that some women who had applied before, like our own Board Member Alex Garcia, ultimately never received a Summit Scholarship, but they have gone on to even bigger objectives and continue to empower and inspire women and other marginalized genders worldwide.

Here’s to big mountain dreams - let’s continue to work on leveling the playing field, one mountain at a time!