The University of Calgary is awarding its first doctoral scholarship for a single parent, with an application deadline of May 15 for next September.

The $5,000 Dr. Jeannette Nicholls Graduate Scholarship was founded by Kathleen Scherf, dean of communication and culture, who completed her doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia as a single parent with two young sons.

The new scholarship is named for Jeannette Nicholls, who was a university fundraiser and single parent who helped Scherf settle into Calgary. Scherf led the fundraising effort for the $100,000 scholarship endowment, and was backed by prominent Calgarians Pat Moore, Jennifer Diakiw, Bonnie DuPont, Catherine Ford, Margo Helper, Sydney Sharpe and Frances Wright.

The scholarship is open to men and women who are the primary custodial parent of a child or children.