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The SMI Scholarship Program
Deadline to apply: January 13, 2025 3:00 pm CT

The Spring Manufacturers Institute has established a scholarship program to assist member company employees and their dependent children who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs. Scholarships are offered each year for study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.

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 SMI Scholarship Program must:

  • Be full-time employees or dependent children* of full-time employees of member companies of Spring Manufacturers Institute with one year of employment at the time of application deadline.
    *Dependent children are defined as biological children, step-children, legally adopted children or legal wards living in the employee’s household or primarily supported by the employee.
  • Be high school seniors or graduates or be current postsecondary undergraduates or graduate level students.
  • Plan to enroll in a full-time** course of study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, graduate school or vocational-technical school.**Applicants who are employees may enroll in a full-time or part-time course of study.

Employees of Spring Manufacturers Institute are not eligible.

Awards

Up to five (5) awards of $2,000 each will be granted from SMI, assuming there are qualified applicants. In addition, there will be seven (7) named awards granted. The additional awards will be called:

  • Goldberg Family Foundation Scholarships (2 scholarships of $2,000 each)
  • Lynne Carr Scholarship ($2,000)
  • Callaghan-Hart Scholarship ($2,000)
  • Ronald and Adrienne Banas Scholarship ($5,000)
  • The Gibraltar Corp. Scholarship ($2,000)
  • Alexander and Joanne Rankin Scholarship ($4,000)

The recipient for the Gibraltar Corp. Scholarship will be granted to a first-generation college student. Preference will also be given to students enrolled in a mechanical engineering program.

Awards are not renewable and the same student may not receive an SMI Scholarship award two years in a row. However, recipients may reapply to the program again after waiting a year.

Awards are for undergraduate and graduate study.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

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

Financial need is not considered.

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of Spring Manufacturers Institute or member companies play a part in the selection. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

Notification

Applicants will be notified in late-February. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements; however, recipients may only reapply every other year they meet the eligibility requirements.

Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of the Spring Manufacturers Institute. Payment is made in early August.

As part of your application, you must upload the following:

  • 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.

NOTE: If you are uploading a high school transcript and have taken the SAT or ACT, you must also upload a copy of your official SAT or ACT test scores if the test scores are not available on your high school transcript.

One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than January 17, 2025 3:00 pm Central Time.

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

The Spring Manufacturers Institute 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.