Maine State Society Scholarships

The Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. Foundation established a scholarship program in 1990 to recognize Maine students attending Maine colleges and universities, and has awarded $225,000 in scholarship funds to 190 students since 1991. Each scholarship is in the amount of at least $1,000 -- including several awards over $2,000 -- and is awarded to full-time students who have completed at least one year of undergraduate courses at a four-year degree granting, non-profit institution of higher learning in the State of Maine.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must:

A. Have been born in or have been a legal resident of the State of Maine for at least four years; or have at least one parent who was born in or has been a legal resident of the State of Maine for at least four years. 

B. Not have reached his/her 25th birthday by June 30 of the application year.

C. Have completed at least one full academic year and be currently enrolled in a minimum of twelve semester hours -- or the equivalent in quarters/hours/courses -- as a baccalaureate degree candidate, according to the standards of the college/university. The school must be a four-year degree granting, non-profit institution of higher learning in the State of Maine. 

NOTE: No first-year college students are eligible for this scholarship, and the funds cannot be applied to graduate school work or community college work. 

D. Submit a "student's copy" transcript (furnished by the registrar) of all college/university grades in the semesters preceding the application date and showing a grade point average of not less than 3.2, or the equivalent thereof.

E. Submit a typed composition of up to 750 words in response to ONE of the two questions on the current year's application form.

F. Submit a current resume, limited to 2 pages, including information on coursework, academic honors, awards/scholarships, leadership, work and volunteer experience. 

G. Submit the application via the online form, and submit the other required documents via e-mail to mssfscholarship@gmail.com no later than midnight ET March 15 of the application year. No extensions. 

H. Optional: Applicants may submit a sample of work (e.g., prose, poetry, articles, art) to give reviewers a deeper understanding of the applicant.

PROCESS: The Scholarship Committee shall be appointed by the Foundation's Board of Directors and shall recommend the best candidate(s) based on merit. The number of scholarships awarded shall depend on the quality of the applications submitted and the total funds available. The name(s) of each awardee recommended by the Scholarship Committee will be submitted to the Foundation's Board of Directors for approval.

The Foundation will notify each awardee in writing of his/her selection and the scholarship funds will be sent to that student for use in tuition payments or related school expenses or fees. 

If, after an award is made, a student is put on academic probation or fails to attend the institution during the subsequent semester, the student should attempt in good faith to return the scholarship funds to the Foundation.

Students are allowed to re-apply for the scholarship in subsequent years, but individuals are only eligible to receive one scholarship from this program.