MSSA Scholarship Application 2026

The Steve and Barbara Metheny Scholarship Foundation Application

Revised 2022
The Steve and Barabara Metheny Scholarship Foundation provides financial awards to Mid-South Sign Association members' employees and/or their dependent children who are pursuing higher education. MSSA desires to promote excellence within our industry by encouraging the young, bright, and talented individuals related to MSSA to further their education.

Applications must be received by May 1st. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. MSSA will ONLY accept applications submitted to this online form. No emailed, scanned, or mailed copies will be accepted.

Scholarships will be awarded at MSSA SignConnexion for vocational, undergraduate, or graduate studies or an approved course that will advance a professional. Checks will be mailed to the home address listed during June and July. However, it is MSSA's preference that each recipient attend SignConnexion to receive their certificate. The number of awards and the amount granted each year may vary depending on the number of qualified applications received.

MEMBER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
1. Any company that is an active, participating member in good standing of the Mid-South Sign Association as described below:
1. A member company must have been a member of MSSA during the calendar year prior to scholarship application submission and membership dues must be current.
2. A representative of the MSSA member company must earn a minimum of 2 attendance credits during the calendar year prior to scholarship application submission. Attendance beyond 2 credits in no way influences the decision as to whether a scholarship is granted.
  Credits:
  1 credit - Fall Meeting Attendance
  
  1 credit - Winter Meeting Attendance
  
  2 credits - SignConnexion/Annual Meeting
  
  I. Manufacturer Representative’s attendance will qualify for the MSSA member company he or she represents.
3. Additional branches or company locations are considered separate companies that require separate MSSA membership and must meet participation requirements as described above in parts A and B.
2. Scholarship recipient must meet one of the following employment criteria:
1. Employed by an MSSA member 'in good standing” as described above in section 1, employed for at least six months and work thirty hours per week.
2. The dependent child of an employee of an MSSA member 'in good standing” as described above in section 1 and immediately above in section 2, “line a.”
3. Scholarship applicants must meet and submit all of the following educational criteria:
1. Be an employee or dependent child as described above in sections 1 and 2.
2. Be a student who is or will be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate full-time (12 credit hours per semester or more, or 8 hours per quarter if the school is on the quarter system) course of study at an accredited two or four-year college, university, or vocational/technical school. Required, a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) at the time of applying and completed either the SAT or ACT examination.
  Or
3. Be a student enrolled in an approved course requiring at least six months and no more than 1.5 years of classroom instruction which will advance their professional career and must have a GED or a high school diploma. Funding is to be no more than the cost of the program with the documentation required. Application reviewed as a case by case by both the scholarship committee and Executive Committee.
4. Scholarship applicants must complete the Scholarship application in its entirety, and it, along with any required supporting documents, must be received by MSSA before the application deadline.
4. The Scholarship Award is renewable annually for up to three additional years.

5. Scholarship finalists are selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities, work experience, and MSSA member participation. Selection will be made by the MSSA Scholarship Committee, who, in conjunction with the MSSA Board of Directors, shall have the right to interpret, modify, or discontinue this Scholarship Award Program. All applicants agree to accept decisions made by the committee and Board of Directors as final. Applicants will be notified by mid-June. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Applicants may re-apply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

MAY 1ST DEADLINE
New ApplicantRenewal Applicant
I. Personal Data
Full Name*

First NameLast Name
Date of Application*

MonthDayYear
Date
Mailing Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Email address*
example@example.com
Date of Birth*

MonthDayYear
Today's Date
Name of MSSA Member Company*
Name of Parent/Guardian Employed by MSSA Member Company*
N/A if applicant is employed by this company
Email of Parent/Guardian Employed by MSSA Member Company*
example@example.com
College / University / Vocational Tech. School Applicant Plans to Attend*
Desired Career*
Expected Major*
Number of times you have applied for this scholarship
Number of times you have received this scholarship*
Date of high school graduation (or GED Completion)

MonthDayYear
Date
II. Educational Record
Name of Current Accredited Institute*
City, State*
Expected Graduation Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Current GPA on 4.0 Scale*
GPA must match what is listed in your attached transcript.
III. Extracurricular Activities

List clubs, community organizations and sports in which you have been a member or an officer inside or outside of school within the last TWO years. No abbreviations.

Rows	Club/Organization (ex. Student Government)	List Years of Membership (ex. 2023, 2024)	Office Held (Member, Officer, President, etc.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

IV. Employment Information

List all summer, part time and/or full time jobs you've had within the last TWO years.

Rows	Company	Job Title	Start-End Date	Full Time/Part Time
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

V. Volunteer / Community Service Projects

List chronologically, the past TWO years of volunteer involvement in activities OUTSIDE the classroom.

Rows	Organization	Start-End Date	Number of Hours Active	Your Role
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

VI. Honors and Awards

List for the past TWO years any awards or special recognitions received inside/outside of the classroom. Do not include Deans, Honors, or Presidents Lists.

Rows	Award	Year Recieved
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

VII. Essay

Your ability to express yourself well is an essential part of the evaluation process. The scholarship essay provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to think analytically and creatively. In your category, answer one of the following questions in 250 words or less. In the event of a tie, blind essays will be submitted to the committee members to be scored. The applicant’s identity, references to the company name, industry people, etc.will be obscured and hidden to prevent committee members from knowing the applicant.
- New Applicants Essay (pick one of the following two).
  1. Tell us about a challenging time in your life. What were the circumstances? How did you respond to this challenge, and what lessons did you learn?
  2. Describe something you have done within the last year that has made a difference in your community.
- Renewal Applicants Essay (pick one of the following two).
  1. Pick an experience from your own life and explain how it has influenced your development.
  2. Tell us about a time when you had a belief or idea challenged.
UPLOAD ESSARY HERE - FILE NAME MUST BE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME:*

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VIII. Certification and Disclaimer
Please read and understand the Certification and Disclaimer policy before downloading, signing and uploading below.
Upload Signed Certification and Disclaimer Form:*

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IX. Member Company Verification Form

MUST BE COMPLETED BY REPRESENTATIVE OF MSSA MEMBER COMPANY.
Download the Member Company Verification Form and have the appropriate company representative sign before uploading below.
Upload Signed Verification Form here:*

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X. Cover Letter

*For renewal applicants only
Upload Cover Letter requesting scholarship renewal:

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XI. TRANSCRIPT

Official High School or most current accredited institute transcript or GED equivalent
Upload Most Current Transcript or GED Equivalent:*

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Must include current GPA Cancelof
XII. HEADSHOT

Optional - for marketing purposes after acceptance
Upload Headshot Here - File Name must be your FIRST and LAST name

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Note: All submitted forms, transcripts, essays, and information become the property of the Mid-South Sign Association and will not be returned to the applicant. Intentionally falsifying information will result in disqualification and forfeiture of any award.

MSSA is not responsible for late or incomplete applications. All submitted items and forms must be received no later than May 1st. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

MSSA will ONLY accept applications submitted to this online form. No emailed, scanned, or mailed copies will be accepted.

For questions only, contact Annie Nabors at (662) 401-8113 or annie@midsouthsign.org.
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The Steve and Barbara Metheny Scholarship Foundation Application

MEMBER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

I. Personal Data

II. Educational Record

III. Extracurricular Activities

IV. Employment Information

V. Volunteer / Community Service Projects

VI. Honors and Awards

VII. Essay

VIII. Certification and Disclaimer

IX. Member Company Verification Form

X. Cover Letter

XI. TRANSCRIPT

XII. HEADSHOT