2025-2026 Senatorial Scholarship

 

Thank you for your interest in Senator Zucker’s Senatorial Scholarship. This scholarship is primarily awarded based on financial need, commitment to public service and interest for higher education. The application is due June 1, 2025. Please review the following instruction carefully before completing your application. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office by emailing Craig.Zucker@senate.state.md.us.


APPLICATION CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://forms.gle/mdC9jnsEVYbyj6Fv8.

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Applicants must be a resident of Maryland's 14th Legislative District. To find out if you are from District 14, please go to http://mdelect.net. Scholarships will not be granted to students outside of the 14th District.
  • Applicants must be one of the following: High school senior/graduate, Undergraduate/Graduate Student, Private career school student, and/or Undocumented student eligible for in-state
    tuition.
  • Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
  • Applicants must take the SAT 1 or the ACT unless you graduated from high school five or more years ago, have earned 24 college credit hours, or are attending a community college or a
    private career school.
  • Applicants must enroll at a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university, as a full-time (12+ credits undergraduate or 9+ credits graduate) or part-time (6-11 credits undergraduate or
    6-8 credits graduate), degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student, or attend certain private career schools.  Audited courses may not be used to reach the minimum credit hours required for full-time or part-time status. Exceptions for out-of-state schools are listed below.
  • If your enrollment status changes after being offered the scholarship, your award amount may also change.

Out-of-State Exceptions

  • Award recipients may use this scholarship at an out-of-state school if their major is not available at any Maryland institution and if Senator Zucker agrees. In order to determine whether a major is eligible for the out-of-state exception, students must complete MHEC’s Unique Major Application. The  2025 Unique Major Application​ will open on March 15 and close on July 1 and can be found on the Maryland Higher Education Commission website. Contact OSFA for further information on unique major status.
  • The scholarship can be used at out-of-state institutions if the applicant is on active duty with the U.S Military and domiciled in the state.
  • The scholarship ma​y also be used out-of-state if the student is disabled and studying at an institution outside the state th​​​at makes special provisions for disabled students that are not available to the applicant at an institution in Maryland.

Application Requirements:

  • Complete and File the FAFSA Application: Complete the FAFSA application by March 1st, 2025.  FAFSA can be found by going to www.fafsa.gov.   If you are eligible for in-state tuition, but
    ineligible to receive federal financial aid, you must submit the Maryland Higher Education Commission One-App (MHEC One-APP) instead. To complete the MHEC One App online, click here to access the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS).
  • Provide FAFSA Submission Summary showing Student Aid Index and, if applicable, Pell Grant eligibility. Instructions for how to find the FAFSA Submission Summary can be found here.
  • Create MDCAPS Student profile: The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) requires a student profile. See the login procedures found via the MHEC – Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) website.
  • Submit your essay: In 250-500 words, describe how your commitment to public service and community involvement has shaped your educational and career goals. Include specific examples of your volunteer work or community engagement, explaining how these experiences have influenced your vision for contributing to the community. Additionally, discuss how this scholarship would help you achieve these aspirations.
  • Submit Resume: The resume should detail your community service (please include hours per week for each activity)
  • Submit supporting documentation (if applicable) for proof of Military Service and/or Unique Major Status.
  • All application materials must be submitted through this google form by June 1, 2025.

Award Process:

  • Applications will be carefully reviewed by Senator Zucker’s Senatorial Scholarship Committee, comprised of distinguished community leaders with diverse expertise. Based on their assessment, the committee will provide award recommendations to Senator Zucker.
  • Strong candidates for this scholarship typically demonstrate: Financial need (as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and Student Aid Index), demonstrated commitment to community service and volunteerism (demonstrated in the essay and resume), and career aspirations to contribute to public service and benefit the community (demonstrated in essay).