Menu
Log in


FWIT 2025-2026 Elevate Scholarship Information

Scholarships are offered annually by Financial Women in Texas (FWIT) to promote improvements in the professional development, leadership skills, education, and training of women in the financial services industry. These scholarships also aim to bring together women in the financial services industry for the exchange of ideas, experiences, and interests.

The Financial Women in Texas Association has allocated $7,500 for professional development scholarships this year. Scholarships will be awarded based on the merit of each applicant’s proposed professional development opportunity.

Individual awards may vary in amount, up to a maximum of $1,500 per recipient, depending on the total number of qualified applicants and the cost of the program or certification. We encourage you to provide a detailed cost breakdown. The committee may award partial funding based on the available budget and application strength.

The scholarship may be used for a wide range of professional development opportunities, including conferences, certifications, seminars, webinars, forums, workshops, conventions, and tuition-based programs, including but not limited to:

  • Professional conferences or conventions (e.g., Women in Banking, TBA, IBAT, ICBA, or ABA events)
  • Certifications (CRCM, CPA, AAP, etc.)
  • Seminars, webinars, forums, workshops
  • Tuition for programs such as the Graduate School of Banking (GSB) or SWGSB

All FWIT members in good standing who did not receive an Association Scholarship (Professional Development or Conference) during the last year are eligible to apply. Recipients of these scholarships are not eligible to be awarded an FWIT Association conference scholarship during the same calendar year.

Complete the information on the attached application and return it via e-mail to the Association Awards and Scholarship Chair listed below.  All applications received via email will be acknowledged with a reciprocating email response.

The deadline for receipt of your application is midnight on January 31.  An outside committee will judge applications received.  Any application received after the deadline will not be judged.  Recipients will be notified by e-mail no later than the end of February.  Recipients will submit an Association Expense Reimbursement form for expenses up to the approved amount. Recipients must be in good standing with the Association when scholarship checks are issued.


Kelsey Goates: kelsey.goates@texasbank.com

2025-2026 FWIT Association Awards and Scholarship Chair


FWIT 2025-2026 Student Scholarship Information

In March 2026, the Association will be awarding a Student Education Scholarship in the amount of $500.

The window of opportunity to apply for the FWIT Student Education Scholarship is now open! The application and full instructions posted in the Members Area on the Helpful Member Info page. The deadline for receipt of your application is midnight on February 28, 2026. Recipients will be notified by March 16, 2026, via email.


2026 FWIT Elevate Scholarship Recipients

FWIT allocated $7500 for professional development scholarships this year. Individual awards vary in amount up to a maximum of $1500 per recipient.  

Congratulations to De'Jah Dorsey, Jessica Lovell, Samantha Mullin, Lindsey Stern and Amy Gill!

De’Jah Dorsey

De’Jah proudly serves as the Branch Manager of the Galveston location of University Credit Union. She began her career in 2018 as a Personal Financial Representative, later advancing to Assistant Branch Manager. She leads a dynamic team, oversees branch performance, cultivates community partnerships and ensures that their members receive exceptional financial guidance and support.

De’Jah Is actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership with an anticipated graduation date of May 2026. She is an active member of the Junior League of Galveston County where she was recently nominated to serve as Communications Vice President for the 2025-2026 service year. She is also participating in Leadership Galveston, an 11-month program designed to develop emerging leaders in their community.

De’Jah’s involvement with FWIT has ben one of the most meaningful aspects of her professional journey. She joined the Galveston, Houston, and Austin Groups in August 2024, and has consistently attended events. She is deeply committed to FWIT’s mission of education, connection and empowerment and plans to remain active in FWIT to share the mission and expand awareness within the community she calls home.



Jessica Lovell

Jessica is Senior Vice President and Director of Customer Experience with more than 27 years experience in the banking industry. She began her career as a part-time teller at age 18 and progressed through leadership roles including Branch Manager, District Manager, and Regional Support Manager. In her current role, Jessica oversees customer experience strategy, service delivery, and digital engagement initiatives impacting more than one million customers.

In addition to her banking career, Jessica is a TEDx speaker, and the recent Founder of Raevolution Speaking, where she focuses her talks on leadership development, redefining strength through vulnerability, and preventing burnout among high-achieving professionals. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Sam Houston State University. Jessica has been actively involved with FWIT since 2019, serving in multiple leadership

roles at both the group and association levels, including Houston Group Treasurer, Association Secretary, Association Vice President, Association President, and currently Past President and Nominating Chair. Jessica continues to support the association through leadership transition efforts and ongoing advocacy.


Samantha Mullin

Samantha currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Risk Management at Horizon Bank. She has more than 15 years of public accounting experience, and primarily focuses on audits and regulatory consulting for community banks, where she monitored enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance and internal audit functions.

Samantha currently holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Business Administration, focusing on Finance and Accounting at Texas Lutheran University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM). Additionally, she plans on pursuing her Executive MBA in Banking at Sam Houston State University beginning in the fall of 2026.

Samantha has been an active member of Austin’s FWIT group since 2023. During that time, she has served as the Social Media Chair for the Austin FWIT group and is currently a member of the planning committee for the 2026 Annual Conference in Austin. Samantha is committed to sharing what she learns through FWIT by engaging in conversations, mentorship and events, and by helping foster a culture that empowers women to lead, grow, and support one another.



Lindsey Stern

Lindsey is a consultant and founder of Viable Consulting Services LLC. She has over sixteen years of banking and compliance experience spanning four different states which includes small community banks to multi-billion-dollar banks and clients. She spent many years as a Commercial and Ag Loan Processor, then became a community bank Training Manager, BSA Officer and Compliance Officer before transitioning to Regulatory Compliance Consulting.

Lindsey holds a bachelor’s degree in business finance and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Montana State University. She also holds several certifications including the Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) from the American Bankers Association, and the Certified Fair Lending Expert (FLE) from Tuscan Club University.

Lindsey joined FWIT Virtual Group in 2025 and has attended several events. She appreciates the connections that have already occurred through the conference, monthly Board meetings, and LinkedIn, and is excited to see what’s to come.



Amy Gill

Amy is a strategic marketing and communications leader with more than ten years of experience helping organizations tell their story in a way that builds trust, strengthens relationships, and supports long-term growth. She currently serves as Vice President and Marketing Director at TexasBank, where she leads marketing and communication efforts that connect their brand to the people and communities they serve across Texas.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Public Relations with an emphasis in Advertising from Angelo State University. Throughout her career, Amy has remained passionate about using communication as a way to connect people, build credibility, and elevate purpose-driven brands. Amy has been a member of FWIT for the last year and has been actively engaged through conferences, educational events, and networking opportunities. FWIT has allowed her to build meaningful relationships with women across banking, marketing, and leadership roles who share a commitment to growing the financial services industry in Texas.

_____________________

These women exemplify leadership, resilience, and a commitment to lifting others as they rise. Through the FWIT Elevate Scholarship, they will gain access to development opportunities designed to expand their skills, strengthen their confidence and accelerate their professional growth. Please join us in congratulating these ladies!







2025 Conference Scholarship Winners

For 2025 the Association awarded 10 scholarships to attend our 16th Annual Conference: FWIT 2025 - Uptown Girl- Dallas, TX at The Crescent Hotel.  Five of these scholarships were offered to first-time FWIT Conference attendees.  The remaining five scholarships were awarded to members who has previously attended a FWIT Association Conference.  The value of each scholarship was on the amount of the Early Bird registration of $450.  And the winners are:

First Time Attendees

    • Jennifer Walker, Dallas Group
    • Leslie Rhodes, Heart of Texas Group
    • Sarah Bell, East Texas Group
    • Vanessa Kilman, Galveston Group
    • Stacie Cooks, Austin Group
Returning Attendees
    • Cheryl Linder, Gulf Coast Group
    • Dana Mosier, East Texas Group
    • Emma Bothwell, East Texas Group
    • Kathy Marullo, Galveston Group
    • Nayer Sikder, Austin Group

Congratulations to all our scholarship recipients! 


© 2022 Financial Women in Texas

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software