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The Mars Scholarship Program
Deadline to apply: February 17, 2025 3:00 pm CT

Mars, Incorporated has established a scholarship program to assist associates’ children who plan to continue their education in eligible college or vocational school programs. Renewable scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited four-year institution leading to a degree in the sciences, engineering, accounting, economics or business, a two-year community college or vocational school leading to a degree in the manufacturing industry, or an approved veterinary technician school.

This program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Applicants to The Mars Scholarship Program must be:

  • Dependent* children of full-time and part-time active associates who have a minimum of one year of employment with the company as of the application deadline.
    *Dependent children are defined as natural and legally adopted children or stepchildren living in the associate’s household or primarily supported by the associate.
  • High school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll or students who are already enrolled in full-time undergraduate study for the entire academic year at one of the following:
    • A four-year accredited educational institution which normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and has a regular organized body of students in attendance at the place where the educational activities are conducted. Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a program of study leading to an undergraduate degree in the sciences, engineering, accounting, economics, or business.
    • A two-year community college vocational or technical school in a program of study leading to an associate’s degree, certificate or diploma in the manufacturing industry.
    • A veterinary technician school in a veterinary technology program accredited or approved by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association, or other approved accrediting agency.

Any major not listed above is ineligible for the program.

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award ranging from $1,500 to $7,500. Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years or until a degree, certificate or diploma is earned, whichever occurs first. Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance in a full-time course of study in an approved major, continued employment of the student’s parent at Mars, Incorporated, and continuation of the program by Mars, Incorporated.

Deceased and retired associates’ children may remain in the program based upon satisfactory academic performance in an approved major.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Notification

Applicants will be notified in April. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of Mars, Incorporated. Payments are made in one installment in early August.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • A statement of career and educational goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • An online recommendation

Once scholarship recipients are selected, financial data is reviewed to determine the amount of each award, ranging from $1,500 to $7,500. Recipients whose parents choose not to supply the requested financial information will be eligible to receive a minimum award only.

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or associate of Mars, Incorporated play a part in the selection. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

As part of your application, applicants must upload the following:For U.S. applicants

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
    • Student name
    • School name
    • Grades
    • Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
    • Students currently or previously enrolled in college or vocational-technical school must include all college or vocational-technical transcripts of grades from each school attended.
    • High school seniors and students who have completed less than one full quarter or semester of college or vocational-technical education must include a high school transcript of grades.

     
    NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.

For non-U.S. applicants

  1. English translations for all non-English documents
  2. Clear scans of the following educational documents:
    • Students currently or previously enrolled in university must include:
      1. Academic record (transcript of grades) for all university course work completed, and
      2. Secondary school credential/diploma/certificate.
    • Current (upper) secondary school students and students who have completed less than one year of higher education (university) must include:
      1. Academic record (transcript of grades) for all higher education course work completed, and
      2. Results of academic examinations (if available).

Also as part of your application, one online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf by February 20, 2025 3:00 pm Central Time.

Your application is not complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically.

Mars, Incorporated has partnered with Scholarship America. Selecting the button below will redirect you the Scholarship America Student Hub!

Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address provided below in the footer as safe senders in your email contact list.