Bettie H. MacRae Scholarship Grant

The Bettie H. MacRae Scholarship provides financial support for nontraditional students in Maine, particularly those from Islesboro, to pursue career-related education. It emphasizes the importance of adult learners overcoming challenges in their educational journey. Eligible applicants must meet specific criteria, such as being over 25 or having dependents, and can enroll in various accredited programs, including online courses and professional training, to enhance their employment opportunities.

Adult Learner Scholarship
Pursuing higher education as an adult – whether for the first time or not – is stressful and full of challenges. The Adult Learner Scholarship is intended to help relieve some of the financial burden of pursuing your goals so you can focus on what is important: school.
Overview
This scholarship is for Maine's nontraditional students who want to change their life for the better through education and training. The scholarship supports a range of training, including attending two- and four-year colleges and universities, completing a certificate and other non-degree programs, or attempting a self-directed learning experience with a clear goal.
Bettie was raised in Florida and California and lived for many years in Pennsylvania. Later in her life, she found her way to Islesboro and lived on the island for 35 years, initially during the summer and later as a year-round resident. Her life was characterized by a deep interest in arts and culture. She befriended and provided for many. Bettie nurtured a deep love of nature, loved living near the ocean and cultivating a lifelong knowledge and appreciation for trees, plants and flowers. This memorial scholarship fund is created by Bettie’s three children, Pamela, Charlotte, and Christopher, and is directed to the year-round community of Islesboro in appreciation for the many quiet kindnesses of friendship offered to Bettie over the years.

Eligibility

You must be a Maine resident.To be defined as a “nontraditional student,” you must also meet ONLY ONE of the following criteria:be over the age of 25 orwork full time (35 hours/week or more) while enrolled orhave dependents other than a spouse orbe financially independent from parents and/or considered independent for FAFSA purposes orhave not received a standard high school diploma (completed with a GED, HiSET, or certificate of completion) orhave delayed enrollment in college after high school for a reason other than a gap-year activity.Applicants may be enrolled full time or part time.Applicants must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they are eligible to do so.Unless the application is for a self-directed learning experience, all programs must be accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation agency.Bettie H. MacRae ScholarshipThe Bettie H. MacRae Scholarship supports year-round residents of Islesboro, preferably female, age 23 and over who are pursuing career-related post-secondary education. This may include online coursework, professional training and /or certification, college classes, continuing education credits, licensing programs, or any other type of study to enhance and maintain employment. This scholarship is not limited to graduates of Islesboro Central School and is for those students for whom a scholarship would make a significant difference in their ability to attend the program of their choice.