The Northeast Harbor Library Scholarship Program 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. Students who reside in the Town of Cranberry Isles are likewise eligible for scholarships. Scholarship students have continued their education at a wide range of career oriented schools and liberal arts colleges. Because the Scholarship Program is dependent on annual contributions, the exact amount of the scholarship is determined year-to-year. Applicants will be notified regarding the amount of funding after the Scholarship Committee meets in August.

Ruth Jordan Award

In addition, the scholarship committee selects one high school senior each year from among the scholarship applicants for the Ruth Jordan award. This is a one-time award of $500 for one student, in addition to the general scholarship. The criteria for this award are that the individual be an academically superior student, and that the student demonstrates a deep interest in and commitment to community service. There is no separate application for the Ruth Jordan award, but the selected student will be asked to submit a biographical essay and a graduation photo for inclusion in the Ruth Jordan Scholar album.

Requirements

• Applicants must be graduates of Mount Desert Island High School, and either the student or their parents must domiciled in the Towns of Mount Desert or Cranberry Isles for the duration of the scholarship.
• Students must apply for the program annually (using the form available here) for up to a maximum of five years of full-time or part-time undergraduate study.
• Students 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 as well as keeping the Library informed of any changes in contact information. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the financial grant for the current year.

Applications

• First-year applicants must submit their applications by May 1, 2023 and are required to complete an interview with the Scholarship Committee. Applications can be obtained from the guidance office at Mount Desert Island High School.
• Renewing applicants will be reminded via email in January of the need to reapply. Renewal applications are due no later than April 30, 2023. A copy of the most recent official transcript is required with the application. Applicants will be notified of awards by regular mail around the end of July.
• Renewing applicants should read the guidelines for the Beverly Coleman Scholarship Award. It is an additional scholarship grant.
• Incomplete applications or applications submitted without a transcript will not be considered.
• We encourage students to mail their applications to the Northeast Harbor Library by Certified Return Receipt as proof that their application was submitted to the Scholarship Office by the stated deadline.

Disbursements

• Scholarship checks are disbursed from the 1st of January through the 31st of March, and are made out jointly to the student and the school which he/she is attending. Before a check will be issued, students must submit an Official Transcript for the fall semester. A 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 awarded a grant who find that their plans have changed should notify the Scholarship Committee immediately so that these funds may be used elsewhere in our Program. Students are encouraged to reapply for scholarship assistance should they be able to return to school at a later date.
• Students must determine their own tax liability.

Download as a PDF our  Scholarship Application Form 2023 Download as a PDF our Beverly Coleman Form

Scholarship Gifts

The Library welcomes contributions to our Scholarship Program. Use the Donate button on the right to contribute to the Scholarship Program using your credit card. You will be redirected to PayPal’s secure server for this donation and may use any of the following methods to make your contribution:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express
• Discover
• Debit Card
• PayPal Account

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.