THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OF THE NORTHEAST HARBOR LIBRARY
For residents of the villages of the Town of Mount Desert and the Town of Cranberry Isles pursuing post-secondary undergraduate education
- Overview
- Application Process for New and Renewing Applicants
- Scholarship Program Requirements
- Scholarship Grant Payments
- Donate to the Scholarship Program
OVERVIEW
The Scholarship Program of the Northeast Harbor Library was founded by the Trustees of the Library in 1953 for the purpose of assisting young people of the Town of Mount Desert who wish to continue their education after graduating from Mount Desert Island High School. Eligibility has been expanded to include students who reside in the Town of Cranberry Isles, and home instruction students who complete State of Maine requirements.
Scholarships are available for undergraduate studies at vocational schools and public or private colleges. The Scholarship Program is dependent on annual contributions, and a community-based Scholarship Committee determines the exact amount of the scholarship award each year. Applicants are notified of the amount of funding in August, and scholarship payments are made in the spring of the academic year.
The scholarship award for Academic Year 2023-24 is $3,500 to each student. Award amounts may vary from year to year.
The library awards two special scholarships each year: The Ruth Jordan Award to one New Applicant, and the Beverly Coleman Scholarship Award to one Renewing Applicant.
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR NEW AND RENEWING APPLICANTS
NEW APPLICANTS – DEADLINE MAY 1
- New Applicants must submit their applications and high school transcripts to the library. The new application deadline is May 1st.
- Students may email or mail their applications to the Northeast Harbor Library. Applicants who send applications through the mail may want to request a Certified Mail Receipt as proof that their application was submitted by the deadline.
- Applicants will be notified of award amounts in August.
- New Applicants are required to complete an interview with the Scholarship Committee, to be scheduled in May.
- New Applicant applications are available at the guidance office at Mount Desert Island High School and for download here.
RUTH JORDAN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
New Applicants may want to apply for the Ruth Jordan Award which is an additional grant.
RENEWING APPLICANTS – DEADLINE MARCH 31
- Renewing Applicants must reapply each year and submit their official transcripts in order to receive scholarship payments. The renewal application deadline is March 31st. Incomplete applications or applications submitted without a transcript will not be considered.
- Students may email or mail their applications to the Northeast Harbor Library. Applicants who send applications through the mail may want to request a Certified Mail Receipt as proof that their application was submitted by the deadline.
- Applicants will be notified of award amounts in August.
- Renewal applications are available for download here.
BEVERLY COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Renewing Applicants may want to apply for the Beverly Coleman Scholarship Award which is an additional grant.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- Applicants must be graduates of Mount Desert Island High School – OR – must meet the State of Maine requirements for home instruction.
- Scholarship recipients or their parents must be domiciled in the Towns of Mount Desert or Cranberry Isles for the duration of the scholarship.
- Scholarship recipients must apply for the program annually using the form available on the library website.
- Students may receive scholarship awards for a maximum of five years of full-time or part-time undergraduate study. Award years do not need to be consecutive.
- Scholarship recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for a scholarship grant. If the student’s school does not issue grades, they must submit a letter stating they are in good academic standing.
- Students are responsible for following the guidelines of the program and must keep the library informed of any changes in contact information. Students who do not inform the library of current contact information will forfeit their financial grant for the current year.
SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PAYMENTS
- Scholarship checks are disbursed from January 1st through March 31st.
- Students must submit their most recent official transcript to the library scholarship administrator for a check to be issued.
- The student must have a 2.0 or higher GPA.
- Scholarship checks are made out to both the student and the institution, and are sent to the student.
- The scholarship award check must be properly credited to the institution’s account by the end of the academic year of issue, or the award is forfeited.
- Students must determine their own tax liability for scholarship awards.
- Students awarded a grant who will not use the grant must notify the library’s scholarship administrator immediately so that the funds may be reallocated.
BREAKS IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Students who discontinue their education before receiving all five years of scholarship awards are encouraged to reapply for scholarship assistance if they return to school at a later date and meet eligibility criteria.
SCHOLARSHIP GIFTS
The Northeast Harbor Library Scholarship Program is funded by contributions from our community members.
You may use the Donate button below to contribute. You will be redirected to the Donorbox secure server and may use any of the following methods to make your contribution:
- Credit card
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
To make a donation with a check or money order, please make your gift payable to:
Northeast Harbor Library Scholarship Program
PO Box 279
Northeast Harbor, Maine 04662
Thank you very much!
The Northeast Harbor Library is a nonprofit public charity operating under Section 501 (c)(3) and in compliance with Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
