Get Back to Work and Let’s Make Scholarship Dollars

Scholarships Due Before April 13th

Olivia Fanjoy, Copy Editor/Social Media Manager • March 31, 2026

Published: March 30, 2026

It is that magical time of year when you’ve traded hot coffee for iced coffee, assignments are piling up, snowdrifts are melting, and your wallet is accusing you of abandonment. Fear not: there are scholarships just for Maine students (and people who love this weird, wonderful state) that are still open. These will put some cheddar in your bank account faster than you can say “it’s wicked wahm out heah” as you welcome in Fake Spring.

Maine Community Foundation Scholarships

Award: Varies by fund
Who It Is For: Maine residents pursuing post‑secondary education, trade school, certificates, etc.
Deadlines: Varies by fund; many awards fall in late spring/early summer
Link: https://www.mainecf.org/find‑a‑scholarship/

The Maine Community Foundation administers hundreds of scholarship funds, many of them exclusively for Maine residents, covering areas ranging from journalism to the trades to leadership awards.

Agnes Freyer Gibbs Scholarship Fund (Maine Community Foundation)

Award: Renewable support
Who It Is For: Graduating Maine high school seniors majoring in journalism or related media fields
Deadline: May 1, 2026 (application deadline — but worth applying soon)
Link: https://www.mainecf.org/find‑a‑scholarship/available‑scholarships/available‑statewide/

Adult Learner Scholarship (Maine Community Foundation)

Award: Varies based on need/course length
Who It Is For: Maine residents who are adult learners (nontraditional students with career goals)
Deadline: Rolling (short‑term awards) or scheduled dates for longer awards — check early!
Link: https://www.mainecf.org/find‑a‑scholarship/available‑scholarships/for‑adult‑learners/

Skowhegan Savings Bank Scholarship Program

Award: Seven $2,000 awards
Who It Is For: Graduating seniors attending eligible area high schools (including Portland High, Deering, etc.)
Deadline: April 1, 2026
Link: https://www.skowhegan.com/scholarship‑program

Maine Seacoast Mission Scholarships

Award: Funds plus possible renewal
Who It Is For: Students from Maine’s outer islands and Downeast communities
Deadline: April 15, 2026 (application window March 1–April 15)
Link: https://seacoastmission.org/downeast/scholarships/

Volume 57 Issue 14

Donate to The Free Press

Your donation will support the student journalists of University of Southern Maine. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

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.