George Washington University Honors Dorothy Height

George Washington University in the nation’s capital has announced the establishment of the Dorothy I. Height Scholarship for Public Service. The scholarship honors Dr. Height who led the National Council of Negro Women for nearly half a century. Height died in April 2010 at the age of 98.

The new scholarship will provide $10,000 to an incoming freshman student with financial need. The recipient will be required to perform 100 hours of community service during the academic year.

In addition to the scholarship, the university will construct a memorial stone bench to honor Height near the Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Height was raised near Pittsburgh. She was accepted to Barnard College but was denied admission because the college had already enrolled its quota of two African Americans. She went on to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree at New York University.

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