SMI Scholarship Application

Thank you for your interest in applying for our scholarship. This scholarship supports immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Maine who are looking to improve their English skills or further their education and career development.

We understand that applying for financial support can be challenging, so we aim to make this process as clear and simple as possible. Before applying, please review the elligability criteria below.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a resident of Maine.
• Be an immigrant, refugee, or asylum seeker.
• Be seeking to improve your English or advance your career through education or training.
• Have a demonstrated financial need (details below).
• Have not received significant private financial aid for your education or training.
• Have received no more than 2 scholarships from SMI in the past.

Note: SMI scholarships support classes at the associate and bachelor’s degree level. We do not fund Master’s Degree classes.

If you're unsure about your eligibility, feel free to contact us for clarification. We are happy to help! 

Application Instructions

There are four parts to this application:

1. Personal Information and Educational Background
2. Training / Class Information 
3. Financial Information
4. Essay

 

Your Privacy Matters: We understand that applying for a scholarship means sharing personal information. We take your privacy seriously and want you to feel safe.

• This form is secure and uses encryption to protect your data.
• Only a small number of trusted team members can see your application.
• We do not share your information with anyone outside of SMI.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. We're here to support you.

To help us assess financial need, please submit 1 or more of the following documents if applicable:

• Recent paycheck stubs (if available)
• Tax return (optional, please black out Social Security Numbers)
• Letter from your employer, community leader, or a social worker attesting to your financial situation
• Proof of participation in public assistance programs (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid)

Note: We understand that not everyone may have access to traditional documents, and we are flexible in what we accept. If you have questions or need to provide alternative proof, please contact us.

If this would be your first SMI scholarship, please answer the following questions in 300-500 words:

• What are your education or career goals?
• How will this scholarship help you achieve these goals?
• What challenges have you faced, and how will this scholarship help overcome them?

If you have recieved an SMI scholarship in the past, please answer the following questions in 200-400 words:

• What are your education and career goals? Please include a little about how the previous scholarship helped you work towards your career goals.

 

Tip: You do not need to share your full life story unless you feel comfortable doing so. Focus on your aspirations and how this scholarship will help you on your journey.