Student Opportunities

The 2008-2009 Margaret Chase Smith
Public Affairs Scholarship

Statement of Purpose

The Margaret Chase Smith Public Affairs Scholarship was established in 1991 in the University of Maine Foundation with gifts from Harold Alfond to the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation in Skowhegan, Maine. The scholarship was established on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Senator Smith's election to the U.S. House of Representatives and in recognition of her many years of dedicated public service to the citizens of Maine and to the nation from 1940 to 1973. Senator Smith's abiding belief was that real progress will be attained only through the education of Maine's young voters.

The scholarship program is administered by the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy with the assistance of a university selection committee. Scholarship winners work with faculty advisors and/or staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy in the conduct of research. The student and Center staff then develop a dissemination plan to ensure that the results are communicated to relevant audiences.

Application Process

• Download the 2008-2009 Undergraduate Student Application and instructions  (.PDF)  (MS Word)

• The application form, your essay, and two letters of recommendation must be received no later than  February 25, 2008

The amount of the scholarship will be $3,500 per year.  The selection committee will review all proposals and invite the most promising for interviews, which will last for about 15 minutes.  All applicants will be notified of the committee's decision by mid-April.  Selection is limited to students who show promise for future leadership in and contribution to public affairs.  Applications will be evaluated according to:

• The relevance and significance of the proposed research topic to U.S. public policy;

• The quality of written work expressed through the application essay.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Maine resident;
  

• Be an undergraduate student with a GPA of 3.0 or better;
  

• Be registered at the University of Maine for 12 credits or more;
  

• Have completed 40 degree hours prior to the semester in which student is applying.

Scholarship Renewal

The scholarship may be renewed for up to three years, provided the recipient meets the following requirements:

• Submits their completed project by April 15;

• Continues to make satisfactory progress in his/her academic program;

• Continues to meet the criteria for the award;

• Applies to renew the scholarship by submitting a satisfactory proposal for next year's public affairs project.

Scholarship Recipients

• Past projects

Inquiries

Eva McLaughlin, Administrative and Fiscal Manager
eva.mclaughlin@umit.maine.edu    

Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center
5784 York Complex, #4. Room 215
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5784
Phone: 207- 581-1646