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Scholarships In Marine Studies And Technology

An overview of schools and marine organizations with scholarships available for students looking for education and training in a marine-related field.

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Scholarships

A number of schools and marine organizations have scholarships available for students looking for education and training in a marine-related field. Here are a few. Apprenticeship and Internship opportunities are listed below. We invite any organization offering scholarships, apprenticeships or internships that have not been included here to contact BoatUS and add information about your programs.

National Marine Electronics Association offers a marine electronics industry scholarship to two individuals entering this field, valued at $2,500, and includes free attendance at both of the entry level NMEA Marine Electronics Installer Certification training. 

Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Virginia offers the Carter Machinery Company and Caterpillar, Inc. Diesel Technology Scholarship to an exemplary student enrolled in the diesel technology program. 

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) annually awards graduate and undergraduate scholarships up to $2,000 per year to students working towards a degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, ocean engineering or marine industry related fields at one of the following schools: California Maritime Academy, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Institute of Technology, Maine Maritime Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Texas A&M University/College Station, University of British Columbia, University of California/Berkeley, University of Michigan, University of New Orleans, State University of New York Maritime College, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Webb Institute.

SNAME also offers an annual Mandell and Lester Rosenblatt undergraduate scholarship up to $6,000 at the schools mentioned above who meet the awards criteria.

Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC, has several scholarships specifically for their marine technology programs.

The Marine Technology Society (MTS) has more than 11 scholarships available to MTS Student Members and non-members who are planning careers in the marine industry.

The Universal Technical Institute, which includes the Marine Mechanics Institute in Florida, awards over $11 million a year in scholarships including several specifically for the marine industry. The UTI Foundation also offers a Stephen V. Norris Emergency Housing Grant for Marine Mechanics Institute Students.

The Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (MTA/NJ) has three Education Scholarships (including two full scholarships) open to any student interested in a career in the marine industry.

The Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation (RBIEF) through the Michigan Boating Industries Association, offers up to 15 scholarships annually. RBIEF also offer an internship program.

The Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale offers a scholarship to McFatter Technical College in Davie, Florida.

The Plywood Regatta Scholarship Fund from the Marine Industries Association of South Florida provides financial support to graduating high school students or marine technical school students.

Lake Erie Marine Trades Association offers a scholarship open to students in North East Ohio planning a career in the marine industry of $300 to $900 annually, which is paid directly to the school for tuition. E-mail: lemta@aol.com

The Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast (MIATC) offers the Robert J. Skidmore, Sr. Scholarship of $500 per year for college-bound high school seniors pursuing a career in the marine industry.

The Merchants Exchange of Portland Scholarship Fund supports students pursuing or advancing careers in a Maritime field and/or International Trade, or in fields which influence the Maritime industry. The scholarship supports five students annually, on average, with awards up to $2000 each. Available to students at 2-year, 4-year, and US Coast Guard approved training programs. 

The Massachusetts Marine Trades Educational Trust (MMTET) is the caretaker of the William Armstrong Scholarship Awards. These awards may be given to a Massachusetts resident who is a high school senior or graduate pursuing an education or training at a qualified institute of higher learning, with the intent of entering or continuing to work in the recreational marine industry in Massachusetts, up to $1500.00 (fifteen hundred dollars) may be awarded to a recipient.

Marine & Maritime Scholarship Program is provided by the Eastport Yacht Club Foundation, in keeping with our mission to provide financial support to high school graduates who choose to pursue a marine or maritime career. Scholarships are given to qualified applicants for post-high school training in the Marine and Maritime Careers.

The Boating Writers International Scholarship Fund offers one $2,000 award to an undergraduate college student who demonstrates a passion to pursue a career in boating journalism, with a clear career goal in the areas of writing, photography, video, broadcasting, film, or art.

The National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) annually offers a Marine Trades Scholarship to an outstanding student pursuing education and a career in the marine industry. 

F.K. Marchman Technical College in New Port Richey, Florida, offers several general scholarships to its students, including in its Marine Services Technology program.

American Maritime Partnership promotes more than three dozen scholarship opportunities in marine-related fields, ranging from $500 to $15,000.

Marine Trade Apprenticeship and Internship Opportunities

Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Virginia offers paid apprenticeship programs at several Hampton Roads, Virginia employers. Graduates of the Maritime Technologies program who have also completed a registered apprenticeship program will be prepared to apply for supervisory positions within the maritime industry or to continue their education towards a bachelor's degree.

Empire State Marine Trades Association (ESMTA) offers a Marine Service Technician Apprentice Program, modeled after multi-year European-style apprenticeships that combine full-time paid work positions, college-level courses, and earning of associates degrees through SUNY Maritime as well as classroom marine training on a wide range of marine systems and seamanship skills to pass industry-recognized certifications.

Maryland Trades Association of Maryland offers a statewide Pre-Apprentice Program for candidates ages 18-24 starting Summer 2015. Accepted candidates will receive complimentary weekend immersion training program, paid six-week internship, internship credentials luncheon, post-internship work placement assistance, industry certification opportunities. Space limited.

Rhode Island Marine Trades Association Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program teaching all the skills needed to get started on a great career track in the marine trades industry. This 234-hour hands-on training prepares participants in several entry-level areas: Painting, Varnishing, Composites, Mechanics, Hauling, Rigging, Fork Lift, Travel Lift, Shrink Wrapping and more.

The Apprenticeshop in Rockland, Maine offers a 2-year apprenticeship program with all aspects of traditional wooden boatbuilding and seamanship, with opportunity to build and sail traditional boats.

Marine Industry Association of South Florida in partnership with the Florida Department of Education and Atlantic Technical College has established the state’s first registered Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship program. The two-year program includes on-the-job training with companies, classroom instruction and nationally-recognized credentials.

Spaulding Marine Center, Sausalito, California, offers Boatworks 101, a multifaceted marine trades apprenticeship approved by the California Division of Apprenticeship standards, prepares students with nine months of training and six months with employers.

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Author

Ann Dermody

Contributor, BoatUS Magazine

Ann Dermody is the former managing editor of BoatUS Magazine.