2025 Scholarships
Mississippi Residents & Latino Youth Nationwide
We are happy to announce our 2025 scholarship program consisting of nine scholarships with a total value of $13,000. Four scholarships will be awarded to Latino youth in memory of Foreign Service members and their families. Five scholarships will be awarded to Mississippi students demonstrating a commitment to higher education despite financial need and limited opportunities. These scholarships are for graduating seniors from public and private schools entering college or a technical training or apprenticeship program.
See our scholarship announcement in the Foreign Service Journal -- page 78.
Mississippi Scholarships
The Marie Maxey Foundation is offering five scholarships of $1,000 each in Mississippi. These scholarships, funded by family members and other donors, aim to give our young people a path to a better future. Here is a list of the scholarships, the target population, and the selection criteria. The deadline for application is April 15, 2025, with an award made the first week of September. The funds will be deposited in the scholarship recipient's student account. The scholarship is available for college, vo-tech, or technical certification.
Grenada, Mississippi – Eligible applicants - Graduating seniors at Grenada High School and Kirk Academy. Three scholarships will be awarded to Grenada High School and Kirk Academy graduating seniors. Additional weight will be given to a graduating senior who plans to attend Holmes Community College. Only one scholarship will be awarded to an individual.
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Grenada High School—$1,000 in memory of Bryon “Bo” Hunter, Jr will be awarded to a graduating senior accepted to a college, vocational/apprenticeship initiative, or technical certification program.
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Kirk Academy—$1,000 in memory of Nancy Maxey Lippincott will be awarded to a graduating senior accepted to a college, vocational/apprenticeship initiative, or technical certification program.
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Holmes Community College—$1,000 in memory of Buddy Thompson will be awarded to a graduating senior from either Grenada High School or Kirk Academy who is accepted to a two-year associate degree program, vocational/apprenticeship initiative, or technical certification program.
Mississippi-wide Scholarship in honor of Ruby Jones – Eligible applicants can be any graduating senior from a public or private high school in Mississippi. Coahoma County students will be given additional weight in the ranking of candidates for the Mississippi-wide scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is in honor of Ruby Carpenter Jones, who recently celebrated her 101st birthday in Clarksdale. This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior accepted to a two-year associate degree program, vocational/apprenticeship initiative, or technical certification program.
Mississippi-wide Scholarship in memory of William "Billy" Carpenter and his son, William Clark Carpenter Jr. – Eligible applicants can be any graduating seniors from a public and private high school in Mississippi. East Webster High School students will be given additional weight in the ranking of candidates for the Mississippi-wide scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is in memory of William "Billy" Carpenter, a Marine, who served his country in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970, and William Clark Carpenter, Jr, an alumnus who passed away shortly after graduating from East Webster High School in 1991. This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior accepted to a two-year associate degree program, vocational/apprenticeship initiative, or technical certification program.
Selection criteria include the following:
(1) a minimum 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA).
(2) a FAFSA Submission Summary (this is a report from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program, which helps determine the student’s financial need). A statement of financial need can be submitted for students enrolling in technical or apprenticeship programs where a FAFSA was not submitted.
(3) 500-word or less essay on how the student plans to use their post-secondary education to provide a better future for themselves and their community.
(4) a letter of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, administrator, or unrelated community member (a pastor, coach, local elected official, etc.).
(5) Proof of acceptance into a two-year associate degree program, vocational/ apprenticeship initiative, or technical certification program.
Latino Scholarships
The Marie Maxey Foundation offers Latino youth four scholarships of $2,000 each to pursue higher education in a college setting or through technical training and apprenticeships. Funded by Foreign Service family members and other donors, these scholarships aim to give our young people a better future. Here is a list of the scholarships and the selection criteria. These scholarships are open to Latino youth graduating from high school anywhere in the United States. The deadline for applications is August 15, 2025, with an award made the first week of September. The funds will be deposited in the scholarship recipient's student account. The scholarship is available for college, vo-tech, or technical certification.
Dulce Deinken Memorial Scholarship - $2,000 – Eligible applicants - Hispanic/Latino youth graduating seniors from any public or private high school in the United States.
Elena Bathrick Memorial Scholarship - $2,000 – Eligible applicants – - Hispanic/Latino youth graduating seniors from any public or private high school in the United States.
Dilian Deal Memorial Scholarship - $2,000 – Eligible applicants - Hispanic/Latino youth graduating seniors from any public or private high school in the United States.
Christopher James Goughnour Memorial Scholarship - $2,000 - Eligible applicants - Hispanic/Latino youth graduating seniors from any public or private high school in the United States.
Selection criteria include the following:
(1) a minimum 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA).
(2) a FAFSA Submission Summary (this is a report from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program, which helps determine the student’s financial need). A statement of financial need can be submitted for students enrolling in technical or apprenticeship programs where a FAFSA was not submitted.
(3) 500-word or less essay on how the student plans to use their post-secondary education to provide a better future for themselves and their community.
(4) a letter of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, administrator, or unrelated community member (a pastor, coach, local elected official, etc.).
(5) Proof of acceptance into a two-year associate degree program, vocational/ apprenticeship initiative, or technical certification program.
