Scholarships Menu

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Private Scholarships

From time to time, Southwestern Michigan College’s Financial Aid office is notified of scholarship opportunities offered by businesses, organizations and individuals. Watch this area of our web site for updates.

The Sallie Mae Fund

Students can now apply for more than $2 million in scholarships from The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae. Delivered through The Fund’s Project Access program, these scholarships target low income and minority populations in an effort to increase access to higher education. Project Access addresses three key barriers to higher education

  • Awareness of financial aid
  • Academic performance
  • Financial need

The Sallie Mae Fund scholarship programs include:

  • The Sallie Mae Fund First in My Family® Scholarship Program: The Sallie Mae Fund developed the First in My Family program in partnership with the Hispanic College Fund, to offer scholarships to Hispanic-American students who are first in their family to attend college. Selected students receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.
  • The Sallie Mae Fund Unmet Need Scholarship Program: The Unmet Need Scholarship Program is intended to help financial aid officers meet the needs of full-time, undergraduate students whose financial aid packages fall short by $1,000 or more. Open to families with a combined income of less than $30,000, Unmet Need scholarships provide a “last dollar” resource when no other funds are available.
  • The Sallie Mae Fund American Dream Scholarship Program: Developed in partnership with the United Negro College Fund, the American Dream program offers scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 to African-American students with demonstrated financial need.
  • The Sallie Mae 911 Education Fund: Created in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the 911 Education Fund provides scholarship dollars to children of those who were killed or permanently disabled in the attacks.
  • To be eligible for The Sallie Mae Fund scholarship programs, students must be accepted and enrolled at a Title IV eligible, accredited post secondary two- or four-year college or university, vocational, or technical school in the United States or Puerto Rico and meet program-specific eligibility requirements.
  • Applications are now available online at The Sallie Mae Fund Home Page linked under Related Links on this page.

In addition, numerous outside agencies and organizations submit scholarship applications to Southwestern Michigan College on a regular basis. For additional information each of the scholarships, click on the highlighted word or check with the SMC Financial Aid office. Some of those agencies and organizations are listed below.

Berrien Community Foundation

The Berrien Community Foundation believe scholarships serve so many people in so many ways. A scholarship can be the difference between going to school and having to take a year off to work and save. A scholarship can prevent the burden of funding a college education from falling totally on a family’s shoulders. The community sees the benefit of scholarships through young people gaining the opportunity to train their minds and be better equipped to become leaders in the future. Follow the link on this page to their Web site to apply for all scholarships that they offer:

Education and Training Vouchers

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan is administering the Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) for Michigan residents. The ETV Program assists current and former foster youth with attending college and/or a vocational program. A youth who is eligible may be awarded up to $5,000 per year to help pay for things such as tuition, a car, rent, a computer, or other daily living expenses.
This money is in addition to all other financial aid that the student may qualify for. In order to be eligible, a student must:

  • Have been in foster care on or after their 14th birthday and,
  • If adopted, not adopted prior to his 16th birthday
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Be under the age of 21
  • Attend an accredited college, vocational or training school at least half-time

Students can obtain applications by contacting:

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan
209 E. Washington Ave. Suite #284
Jackson, MI 49201
Attn: Ann Rossi

FastWeb College Gold Scholarship Web sites (see Related Pages links above)

  • Scholarships for Average Students
  • Unusual Scholarships
  • Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships

John E.N. and Dede J. Howard Instrumental Music Scholarship

John E.N. and Dede J. Howard believe in the importance of art and music in our culture. To show their support for students pursuing careers in instrumental music, they established the John E.N and Dede J. Howard Music Scholarship in 1994 to provide instrumental music scholarships. The Scholarship Application Form (available online through the Related Links on this page) must be post marked by March 8, 2008.

Michigan Nurses Foundation Scholarship

The Michigan Nurses Foundation was created in 2000 to advance nursing and nursing education by awarding scholarships and research grants, and by providing financial aid for the treatment of recovering nurses.

MNF is funded through private contributions and fundraising activities. A minimum of four $500 scholarships will be awarded. The following are the minimum nursing scholarship eligibility criteria:

  • The applicant must be a student currently enrolled in a Michigan college or school of nursing that grants a certificate for practical nursing, or an associate, baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing.
  • The applicant must be in good academic standing with demonstrated progress toward degree completion.

Each candidate must complete an application form and comply with application requirements in order to receive consideration. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Applications must be POSTMARKED by July 15 in order to be considered. The Scholarship Committee will screen applications and submit recommendations to the MNF Board of Directors for review and approval. Criteria that will be influential to the Scholarship Committee screening include:

  • Michigan Nursing Student Association or MNA Membership
  • Community Involvement
  • Clear documentation of financial need

The formal application requests the following:

  • Personal descriptive information
  • Financial information and anticipated program costs
  • Academic GPA/Nursing GPA
  • One-half ( ½) typed page describing the applicant's vision of his/her future nursing practice
  • One-half ( ½) typed page specifically describing how the applicant intends to use the scholarship monies if awarded
  • A reference from a faculty member

Scholarship recipients will be notified by mail the first week in September. Scholarships are awarded in October.

If you have additional questions, please contact:

Pam Wojtowicz
Executive Secretary
Michigan Nurses Foundation
2310 Jolly Oak Road
Okemos, MI 48864
517-349-5640, ext. 13
E-mail: Pam.Wojtowicz@minurses.org

Michigan Bankers Association Foundation

This scholarship is available to assist in educating juniors, seniors and first-year graduate students interested in a bank-related career. Click the Michigan Bankers Association Foundation Related Link on this page to access the scholarship application form as well as additional information on scholarship criteria. Applications must be received by July 15 of the academic year for which aid is sought.

SEMA Automotive Specialty Scholarship

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund was founded in 1984 to foster leadership in the specialty equipment marketplace and to support educational goals for students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket. Click on the SEMA Related Link on this page here to access the scholarship application form as well as additional information on scholarship criteria. Deadline to apply is the end of April each year.

Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors Scholarship

Through a generous donation to Southwestern Michigan College, the Financial Aid Office is pleased to announce the availability of the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors Scholarship. Student must be a dependent child of a member of the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors. Scholarships will be awarded as long as funds are available. Click on the Related Link on this page for additional requirements and application form.

The SPE Foundation Scholarship Program

The SPE Foundation, an affiliate of the Society of Plastics Engineers, offers numerous scholarships to students who have demonstrated or expressed an interest in the plastics industry. They must be majoring in or taking courses that would be beneficial to a career in the plastics industry. This would include, but is not limited to, plastics engineering, polymer science, chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial engineering. All applicants must be in good standing with their colleges. Financial need is considered for most scholarships.

While most scholarships do not require specific knowledge or have special criteria, some scholarships are limited in scope. See the SPE Foundation Scholarship Web page to determine if you are eligible to apply for any of these scholarships. Include the specific information that is required when submitting your application.