Spring is traditional scholarship time at the Island Institute. The Island Institute Scholarship Program supports lifelong learning in traditional and non-traditional endeavors. This support is provided through many private donors and foundations including The Fund for Maine Island Education: A Memorial to Carol Evarts McLane.
Currently, the Institute offers two different scholarships. The Maine Island Higher Education Scholarship is offered to students on Maine’s 14 year-round, un-bridged island communities. The goal of this scholarship is to help Maine island students in their pursuit of academic excellence at high schools, colleges and universities across the United States.
Last year the Institute provided 66 Higher Education Scholarships ranging from $200 to $1,000. A total of $34,700 dollars was awarded. Applications must be postmarked by April 15 to be eligible for review. Past recipients must reapply in order to be considered for continued funding. Scholarship money cannot be used for graduate school.
The Maine Community Foundation administers the Higher Education Scholarship, a non-traditional program that seeks to broaden the educational opportunities of Maine’s unbridged island communities. Students of all ages are encouraged to apply. Jasmine Tinker of Matinicus received a scholarship to help her take classes through the University of Southern New Hampshire via distance learning over the Internet. Students have participated in EMT classes, semesters at sea, and massage therapy courses with the help of the McLane Scholarship. Deadlines for the McLane Scholarship are quarterly; March 15, June 15, Sept. 15 and Dec. 15.
Both scholarships can be downloaded from the Island Institute’s web page, www.islandinstitute.org Click on Resources and then click on either the Island Institute Scholarship Application for a traditional scholarship application or the McLane Scholarship Application for a non-traditional application. Applications are also available from Mike Felton, Education Outreach, at (207) 594-9209 ext.104.
If you want to support the Institute’s scholarship program please feel free to contact Mike Felton or Jane Desaulniers, Development Office Manager, at ext. 123.