MKOTSH 2025 Scholarship Application

Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse (MKOTSH) Hospitality Scholarship Program 2025 - 2026

Dear Students and Parents/Guardians:

The Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse takes its name from the USS Seahorse and the Battle of Bay St. Louis between the United States Navy and the British Navy on December 13-14, 1814. The MKOTSH is honoring those courageous sailors who valiantly fought for this Country's independence. MKOTSH is a 501c(4) nonprofit organization with over 300 active members with the mission to promote economic growth in Bay St. Louis and raise money for local charitable organizations.

Attached is an application for the fifth annual Hospitality Scholarship awarded by MKOTSH. The scholarship is open to all residents of Hancock County who are high school seniors or graduating community/technical college students and plan to pursue a Hospitality related program of study. The scholarship check will be made payable to the higher education institution to be attended. The amount of the scholarship is $1,000. The scholarship check will be mailed directly to the institution.

Examples of Hospitality Related Programs of Study

Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism	Hotel and Lodging Mananagment	Restaurant Management
Culinary Science/Arts	Bakery and Pastry Arts Technology	Business Administration
Business and Hospitality Management	Banquet and Catering Service Technology	Travel and Tourism Management Technology
Recreation Administration	Tourism	Event and Promotional Planning
Mass Communications	Public Relations	Entrepreneurship
Marketing	Gaming	Accounting Technology w/Gaming Concentration
Administrative Office Technology w/Gaming Technology	Business and Marketing Management w/Gaming Concentration	Business and Marketing Management
Customer Service	Human Resources	Finance
Economics	Barbering	Cosmetology
Social Work	Advertising

Please read the following carefully:

DEADLINE for scholarship applications is February 6, 2026.
Refer to criteria below for eligibility requirements.
Refer to the application process below for a list of the supporting documents needed. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Scholarship winner will be notified via email no later than February 27, 2026.
Scholarship winner must be present at the MKOTSH March Social on March 12, 2026.
Scholarship check in the amount of $1000 will be made payable to the higher education institution to be attended and the check will be mailed directly to the insitution.

Criteria:

Applicant must be a resident of Hancock County.
Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or graduating community/technical college student in the year of the award.
Applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Applicant must be economically disadvantaged (to be determined by the school).
Applicant must be pursuing a Hospitality related program of study.
Applicant must be actively involved in school and community activities.

Application Process:

Applicant must submit the following items:

Completed electronic application form.
An official high school or community/technical college transcript with cumulative grade point average.
Essay. In your essay, please answer the following questions and prompt on the enclosed essay form (500 words maximum).
- How have you made a positive impact on your community?
- What are your long-range goals and how will earning your college degree benefit/support these goals in the Hospitality Industry?
- Explain how your program of study listed correlates to the Hospitality Industry.
Letter of Recommendation. Letter may come from a teacher, counselor, administrator, employer, clergy, community leader, mentor, etc.; not a family member.

Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse (MKOTSH) Hospitality Scholarship Program 2025-2026

Name*

Mailing Address

Telephone (Cell) *

Please enter a valid phone number.

Telephone (Home)

Current High School or Community/Technical College

Email Address*

example@example.com

(All notifications will be made by email, so please check regularly)

Name of college/university, community or technical college or training institution you plan to attend*

Name of Hospitality related Program of Study (Refer to the examples on Page 1)

Grade Point Average (GPA)

ACT/SAT Score

List your activities and the grades (high school students) or years (community/technical college students) you participated. For example, Student Council - 10, 11, 12 or 2023 - 2026; Softball - 9, 10 or 2022-2024; Student Council Treasurer - 11 or 2024 - 2025; Band Drum Major - 12 or 2025 - 2026; Food Pantry - 11, 12 or 2024 - 2026; Babysitting - 11, 12 or 2024 - 2026.

School Clubs/Sports and Grades/Years you participated

Office or Leadership Roles and Grades/Years you held that position

Community Service and Grades/Years you participated

Employment History and the Grades/Years you worked

Essay - Please address the following in 500 words or less: 1) How have you made a positive impact on your community? 2) What are your long range goals and how will earning your college degree benefit/support these goals in the Hospitality Industry? 3) Explain how your program of study listed correlates to the Hospitality Industry.

Essay may be uploaded here if needed.

Letter of Recommendation - Letter may come from a teacher, counselor, administrator, employer, clergy, community leader, mentor, etc.; not a family member.

Letter of Recommendation may be uploaded here.

The following items must be sent to qualify for review by the scholarship committee. Check each to be sure you have sent each item as required.

Completed application formMost recent official high school or community/technical college transcriptEssayLetter of Recommendation

Statement of Accuracy

I hereby affirm that all the above stated information provided by me is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I also consent that my picture may be taken and used for any purpose deemed necessary to promote the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse Hospitality Scholarship Program.

Signature of scholarship applicant

Date

The deadline for the items listed above to be received by the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse Hospitality Scholarship Program is February 6, 2026.

After completing the application, press submit.

If the high school or community/technical college transcript and letter of recommendation cannot be uploaded, email these documents to: mkotshscholarship@gmail.com