Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships

These scholarships are available to participants in the 4-H Program, pursuing higher education. Deadlines to apply is: Monday, March 2, 2026, to your local UMaine Extension county office or to the one of our 4-H Learning Centers by email; Monday, March 9, 2026, by email documents to the Maine 4-H Foundation.  Please note: all written applications for the 4-H story and resume should be original work and not created by AI to be considered.

The 4-H scholarship application is designed to help young people involved in 4-H programs to build a resume and to profile their educational and work experiences. The Maine 4-H Foundation feels this can be helpful in higher education and future professional work. For this reason, the Maine 4-H Foundation encourages young people to begin this application early.

Application Deadlines: Applications must be received in your county 4-H office/Camp and Learning Center by Monday March 2, 2026. 4-H Staff must send approved applications to the Foundation by March 9, 2025.

Eligibility:  The qualified candidate must be: 1) a graduating senior or an individual who has graduated from high school but has delayed going to college for no more than one year, 2) currently active in 4-H activities and 3)participates in 4-H in at least one of the following ways:

Involvement in many 4-H programs/activities over their primary and/or secondary educational years.

and/or

A current member of a 4-H club (enrolled by December 31) who is currently active in 4-H activities

4-H activities can include but are not limited to being a member of a 4-H club, participation and leadership at a 4-H Camp and Learning Center, online 4-H education, homeschool education, afterschool or community-based programs at the local or state level, leadership or service-learning initiatives or serving as a 4-H volunteer.

Please note: A limited number of scholarships in partnership with the University of Maine Foundation are available for all four years in college or higher education as long as the student is in good standing academically and attending the University of Maine.

Scholarship and Special Awards: The Maine 4-H Foundation has many scholarships and special awards available ranging from $500 to $2,500. In most years there are more than 20 scholarships awarded. Scholarships are awarded based on 4-H excellence and demonstrated academic performance. Emphasis is placed on your 4-H experiences, leadership, and/or service. Scholarships will be awarded to applicants from Maine.  

Receiving the Scholarship:  Recipients are asked to attend the Maine 4-H Foundation’s Annual Meeting scheduled in late spring/early summer to receive the scholarship in person.

Payment Requirements: Awards are payable upon successfully completing the first semester of school. To receive the award funds, recipients must mail a completed first-semester transcript to the 4-H Foundation office. Special Awards can be awarded before the student begins school.

For Further Information: Please call the Maine 4-H Foundation (207) 581-3739. The latest information and applications for this and other Foundation-funded activities are available on the 4-H Foundation's website at http://www.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/ and click on "Receive Funding".

When applying, please do not send ribbons, trophies, or certificates as part of your application.  Please send black and white photocopied or electronic versions of your 4-H application, essay, and resume to us and keep the originals for your records.

Applications must be submitted to your 4-H staff by March 2, 2026.

Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships That May Be Awarded:

Please note: County Scholarships are awarded by the county.

Maine 4-H Foundation General Post Secondary Education Scholarships

• Wayne S. Rich Scholarship  Maine in odd-numbered years
• Azure Dillon 4-H Memorial Scholarship  Maine 4-Her
• Gladys E. Conant Memorial Farm Credit East Scholarship ($1,000)
• Dr. Harold and Marion Chute Scholarship
• Fred Hutchinson Scholarship (awarded every other year)
• Doris Roberts, H. Lawrence, and George Lawrence Humphrey 4-H Scholarship
• Oxton Trust (Knox and Lincoln Counties)
• Theda Parker/K. C. Lovejoy Scholarship
• Verna Church Witter Scholarship
• Threshold of Maine RC&D Scholarship Fund
• Waldo County Extension Association Scholarship (County Award)
• Somerset County Leaders Association Scholarship ( County Award)
• Jeremy Strater Washington County Scholarship
• Nancy L. Arms ’84, Chadwick C. and Barbara Arms 4-H Scholarship Fund
• Leo J. and Catherine D. Pelley 4-H Scholarship Fund
• Carla and Danny Lafayette Scholarship
• Morna Rawcliffe Scholarship
• Gene Doris Humphrey Scholarship
• Others that become available