No Class, More Cash: Turn Your Free Time Into Funding

Olivia Fanjoy, Copy Editor/Social Media Manager • February 24, 2026

Published: February 23, 2026

If your calendar says “busy,” your brain says “tired,” and your bank account says “please,” this is your sign. While you are doom-scrolling, thinking about laundry but not doing it, or pretending to study, several scholarships with early March deadlines are quietly waiting to hand students real money. A few focused hours now can pay better than most campus jobs, require no uniform, and usually allow snacks. Students at the University of Southern Maine and across Maine have multiple options due around March 1 and March 9. Consider this your officially sanctioned productive procrastination.

Maine and New England–Focused Scholarships (Deadlines Around March 1)

FFC Scholarship

Award: $5,000
Who It Is For: Maine residents attending college
Deadline: March 1
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/residence-state/maine
(Search: FFC Scholarship)

Mainely Character Scholarship

Award: $5,000
Who It Is For: Maine college-bound students who demonstrate strong character and community involvement
Deadline: March 1
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/residence-state/maine
(Search: Mainely Character Scholarship)

Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships

Award: About $2,000
Who It Is For: Students who meet specific height requirements; niche but available to Maine applicants
Deadline: March 1
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/residence-state/maine
(Search: Tall Clubs International Scholarship)

Mitchell Institute Scholarship

Award: About $10,000
Who It Is For: Maine high school graduates entering college
Deadline: March 1
Apply: https://mitchellinstitute.org/scholarships/

Scholarships Due March 9

Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship

Award: $10,000
Who It Is For: Creative students interested in art and design; applicants submit an original greeting card design
Deadline: March 9
Apply: https://www.thescholarshipcollective.com/scholarships
(Search: Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship)

Laughing at My Nightmare Academic Scholarship

Award: $10,000
Who It Is For: Students with strong academic records, leadership, and compelling personal stories
Deadline: March 9
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/
(Search: Laughing at My Nightmare Academic Scholarship)

Next for Autism Fellows Scholarship

Award: $5,000
Who It Is For: Students with autism or students engaged in autism advocacy and related fields
Deadline: March 9
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/
(Search: Next for Autism Fellows Scholarship)

PAMS Julie Sullivan Memorial Scholarship Award

Award: $1,000
Who It Is For: Students with interests in media, communications, or performing arts
Deadline: March 9
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/
(Search: PAMS Julie Sullivan Memorial Scholarship Award)

PAMS Laraine Forry Memorial Scholarship Award

Award: $1,000
Who It Is For: Students showing academic promise and community commitment
Deadline: March 9
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/
(Search: PAMS Laraine Forry Memorial Scholarship Award)

Targeting Excellence Scholarships

Award: $3,000
Who It Is For: Students demonstrating academic or leadership excellence across majors
Deadline: March 9
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/
(Search: Targeting Excellence Scholarships)

Triangle Community Foundation Scholarship Fund

Award: $10,000
Who It Is For: Students with strong community service backgrounds; multiple fields supported
Deadline: March 9
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/
(Search: Triangle Community Foundation Scholarship Fund)

WSIA Derek Hughes Scholarship Program

Award: $5,000
Who It Is For: Students pursuing business, finance, insurance, or risk management fields
Deadline: March 9
Apply: https://www.scholarships.com/
(Search: WSIA Derek Hughes Scholarship Program)

Quick Strategy for Busy Students

If your schedule feels packed, treat scholarship applications like short gigs: block one focused hour per application. Reuse and adapt personal statements. Keep a running document of activities, honors, and service. Submit early when portals allow it. A few hours of “free time” in February and March can translate into thousands of dollars in aid next year. That is one of the best hourly rates available to a college student.

Volume 57 Issue 12

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About the Contributor

Olivia Fanjoy, Editor-in-Chief

Olivia Fanjoy is a clarinetist, writer, and the Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Free Press for the 2026–2027 academic year at the University of Southern Maine. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music. Her interest in journalism grew out of a fascination with ideas, institutions, and the ways people communicate with one another. At The Free Press, she is especially interested in stories surrounding higher education, campus culture, the arts, and the growing role of technology in everyday life. She believes student journalism should challenge people to think critically while still remaining deeply connected to the community it serves. Outside of the newsroom, Fanjoy studies clarinet with Dr. Thomas Parchman and performs with the Osher School of Music Wind Ensemble and the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed in numerous pit orchestras for musicals and opera productions, including productions of Urinetown, Heathers, Fiddler on the Roof, and Gianni Schicchi. Fanjoy also works at Great Waters Summer Concerts, where she has developed experience in nonprofit arts management, marketing, and community engagement. As a visually impaired musician, she is passionate about accessibility, creative expression, and building environments where people feel encouraged to participate, question, and grow.