Scholarship
Maryland Society of Mayflower Descendants Scholarship Program
Our Mission
“The Scholarship Committee serves as the connection between the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Maryland and the applicants to and recipients of its college scholarship awards. The fundamental purpose of these awards is to support students in their academic pursuits and promote better knowledge and awareness about the story of the Pilgrims, and the preservation of that historical heritage.”
Our Vision
Through this scholarship program, students will feel a stronger connection to their ancestral ties to the passengers of the Mayflower and the legacy that connects the generations.
The Award
A minimum of $1500 will be awarded to one or more recipients, depending on the availability of funding. The award monies must be used for tuition, fees, and/or textbooks. The Society’s Scholarship award decisions are final.
Eligibility and Requirements
The Applicant
Must be a Member in good standing, Junior Member, or have direct lineage connection to a member of the Maryland Society. Applicants must be able to describe their lineage to at least one Mayflower Pilgrim (see to-do list).
Must have applied to be or is a full-time student. This must be documented.
Must attend a U.S.-based two- or four-year college or university undergraduate program, trade schools, or other institutions of undergraduate higher learning. Equivalent foreign institutions of higher education will be considered under special circumstances, which should be explained. Students in Graduate or Post-Graduate programs are not eligible
Scholarship Application Instructions List Academic Year: 2024-2025
To-Do-List - The Applicant Must:
- Provide a flowchart that shows the candidate’s lineage to at least one Mayflower Pilgrim.
- Sign the application and complete all portions of the document, or explain why a portion is not pertinent.
- Demonstrate intended or existing full-time student status at the eligible institution.
- Submit unofficial copies of their SAT and/or ACT scores with the scholarship application, if available. Individuals who have been away from school for three years or more are not expected to have these documents. Explain your circumstances if these scores are not available.
- Provide unofficial academic transcripts for the prior two academic years, unless the applicant has been away from school for more than three years.
- Provide two letters of reference from non-relatives.
- Agree to provide or pose for a photograph which may be used to publicize the Society’s scholarship program or the specific award. A photo release form must be provided. That form must be signed by a parent/guardian if the applicant is younger than 18 years old.
- Submit financial account information for the educational institution to which award check(s) are to be submitted. Scholarship funds must be used for tuition, fees, and/or books. Awards may be made directly to the scholarship recipient in special circumstances, which must be justified to the satisfaction of the State society.
- The Society reserves the following rule for scholarship awards at $1500 each or higher, if offered: The applicant must submit unofficial transcripts at the end of each term/semester to be entitled to any remaining portion of the scholarship award. Higher value awards will be disbursed in two installments.
Key Dates
The deadline for receipt of applications is: April 1, 2025
Applicants and annual scholarship recipients will be notified by: April 15, 2025
Awardees will be invited to the Spring Dinner in April 2025.
Contact
Additional information is available from the Scholarship Committee Chair by writing to [email protected]. Applications for the scholarship may be mailed to the address at the top of the application form.
Notices
Your application form and attachments will be held in the chairperson’s files for four (4) years (current year, plus three [3]). All older data shall be shredded/deleted.
Additional scholarship opportunities are offered by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Details about these is available at www.themayflowersociety.org.
Please Download The Application Packet Below