mikeroweWORKS Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship

To be eligible for this award, you must:

• Be a high school senior, high school graduate, or have a GED equivalent.
• Plan to complete an approved trade program after December 1, 2024.
• Be enrolled or plan to enroll in an approved trade program at an accredited two-year college, vocational, or technical school, or other approved technical institute in the United States. Four-year degree or bachelor programs are not eligible.

To be eligible for this award, you must be enrolled or plan to enroll in a program that falls within one of the following approved trade-related categories. (Specific examples of programs within each category are listed in italics, but these examples are not exhaustive and do not represent all possible programs.)

• Automotive Technology (alternative fuels, automotive service, collision and repair, motorcycle service and repair)
• Aviation Technology (aircraft dispatcher, airframe and powerplant, aviation maintenance, composite technology, non-destructive testing, unmanned aircraft, pilot)
• Commercial Driving (CDL)
• Computer Information Technology (computer support, cybersecurity, data analytics, web design)
• Construction (carpentry, construction technology, furniture and cabinet making, masonry)
• Cosmetology (barbery, esthetics technology, hairstyling, nail technology)
• Culinary Arts (chef, sous chef)
• Diesel Technology (diesel service, heavy equipment repair)
• Electrical Technology (avionics, electrician, electromechanics, instrumentation)
• Energy Technology (industrial wind maintenance, lineman/powerline, natural gas technology, power plant technology, wind power technology)
• Farming and Agriculture (agricultural maintenance, agronomy, livestock production, livestock reproduction, turf and grounds)
• Heavy Equipment Operation (heavy rigging, lattice crane, mobile crane)
• HVAC (climate and energy control, HVAC technician, mold and air quality technician)
• Machining (CNC, machine tooling, manual machining)
• Manufacturing (gunsmithing, mechatronics, robotics and automation, process technology smart technology)
• Marine Technology (marine fabrication and maintenance, marine systems installation, marine technician)
• Nursing (licensed practical nursing only)
• Plumbing (plumbing, pipefitting, steamfitting)
• Protective Services (fire science & technology, personal protective services, police, EMT, waste management)
• Welding (welding technology, metals fabrication)
• Veterinary Technology (veterinary assistant, veterinary nursing, veterinary technician)

If your trade program does not fall directly under one of these categories, your program will not be eligible for an award. If you are not sure whether your program fits within any of these categories, please contact us at mikeroweWORKS@applyISTS.com.

The following programs are not eligible for this scholarship:

• Any four-year or bachelor’s degree program
• Diving
• Registered Nursing, Dental, Laboratory, or other healthcare programs
• Veterinary Physician/Medicine

As part of the application process, new applicants must:

• Sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge. S.W.E.A.T. stands for “Skill & Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo.” Basically, you’re signing a solemn oath not to become a lazy, self-entitled drone that blames others for their troubles and expects to be taken care of. This Pledge is not for everyone; so, if you’re offended or threatened by its content, it’s probably best to seek out a different scholarship.
  • To learn more about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, watch Unpacking the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge videos HERE.
• Answer 4 short questions about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge. We want to know that you understand the values of the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge and how you apply it to your life and work.
• Make a video. This is an opportunity to answer a specific question and show us who you are in 60 seconds or less. There are strict rules to submit a video, so be sure to read those carefully and comply, or the video may not be considered.
• Have 2 solid references submit the online reference form. No, Mom doesn’t count—we know she loves you. We only accept references from a boss, supervisor, teacher, or someone you have reported to who will gush about you in a way that will knock our socks off. Co-workers, family members, friends, members of the clergy, or anyone other than a boss, supervisor, or teacher are not eligible. We’ll accept more than 2 eligible references – if more than 2 bosses, supervisors, or teachers want to sing your praises, have them submit an online reference form for extra credit.
• Verify your college or vocational/technical school costs. A financial aid official at your school must submit a school cost form to verify the cost of your program.
• Provide your high school or college transcript. If this is your first year in your program, submit your high school transcript. If this is your second year in your program, send us your college transcript for the prior year. We will accept unofficial transcripts.
• Submit your most recent 1040 tax form. We’d like to have an understanding of your financial need, and your 1040 tax form will tell us your annual income. If you a dependent, you will need to submit your parent or guardian’s 1040 tax form claiming you as a dependent. If the household income is based on the combined income filed under multiple tax returns, please upload all pertinent tax returns together in a .zip file.

• Sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge. S.W.E.A.T. stands for “Skill & Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo.” Basically, you’re signing a solemn oath not to become a lazy, self-entitled drone that blames others for their troubles and expects to be taken care of. This Pledge is not for everyone; so, if you’re offended or threatened by its content, it’s probably best to seek out a different scholarship.
  • To learn more about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, watch Unpacking the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge videos HERE.

• Answer 3 short questions about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge and your current program. We want to know that you understand the values of the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge and how you apply it to your experience.
• Make a video. This is an opportunity to answer a specific question and show us why you are deserving of another work ethic scholarship are in 60 seconds or less. There are strict rules to submit a video, so be sure to read those carefully and comply, or the video may not be considered.
• Have 2 solid, new references submit the online reference form. No, Mom doesn’t count, nor do any of your former references—we know they love you. We want to hear from new references. If you are applying for another work ethic scholarship, we only accept references from a new instructor in your current program or a current boss who will gush about you in a way that will knock our socks off. Any other references, other than a current instructors or bosses, are not eligible. We’ll accept more than 2 eligible references – if more than 2 new instructors or current bosses want to sing your praises, have them submit an online reference form for extra credit.
• Provide your high school or college transcript. If this is the second time you are applying for a scholarship, you must send us your transcript from the prior year or semester in your current program. We will accept unofficial transcripts.
• Submit your most recent 1040 tax form. We’d like to have an understanding of your financial need, and your 1040 tax form will tell us your annual income. If you a dependent, you will need to submit your parent or guardian’s 1040 tax form claiming you as a dependent. If the household income is based on the combined income filed under multiple tax returns, please upload all pertinent tax returns together in a .zip file.

The mikeroweWORKS Foundation and its Evaluation Committee will review the applications based on a rubric that considers:

• Approved program and school
• Strength of references, specifically from a boss, teacher, or supervisor
• Video content
• Short answer responses
• Financial need
• Completeness of the application
• Overall ability to demonstrate a solid work ethic
• Extra eligible references, if applicable

Decisions of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and its Evaluation Committee are final and are not subject to appeal. No application feedback will be given.

The number and amounts of awards are determined by the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and its Evaluation Committee, and the awards are not renewable.

• The scholarships will be applied to tuition, book, and/or tool costs only required for course load at accredited two-year colleges and vocational/technical schools in the United States. Scholarships cannot be applied towards anything other than tuition, book, and/or tool costs, including, but not limited to, room and board, transportation, and any other cost of living expenses.
• Former applicants may reapply and complete another application as long as they disclose that they are former recipients, provide the reason for reapplying, and continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
• Former recipients of the Work Ethic Scholarship Program are eligible to apply as long as they disclose that they are former recipients, provide the reason for reapplying, and continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

You must be enrolled in an approved trade program at an accredited two-year college, vocational, or technical school iduring the 2024-26 academic year.

• You must continue the entire academic year without interruption unless approved by the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. You must deliver your award check with its attached instructions to your financial aid official at your school. It is your responsibility to notify ISTS if your check does not arrive within 30 days of accepting your award.
• If there are any changes to the information that you submitted with your application (for example, contact information, school or program information, or any other relevant information), you are responsible for notifying us of any such changes.
• You are required to give the mikeroweWORKS Foundation an update six months after receiving the award. We want to stay in touch and hear how your program is going.

We anticipate issuing your award check or ACH transfer by the end of July, unless you provide instructions requesting disbursement at a later date. ACH transfers may only be made directly to your school’s account. Checks will be made payable to the school listed on your My Profile page only. Your award check cannot be made payable to you, the recipient. The award check, along with instructions for your school, will be mailed to your home address, and you must deliver the check and instructions to your financial aid official at your school for processing. It is your responsibility to notify ISTS if your check does not arrive within 30 days of accepting your award.

Notifications are sent via email to the email address you used to create your account. Your information is never sold to any third party. The only emails you will receive from ISTS directly relate to your application or the Work Ethic Scholarship Program. While you can opt out of notifications, we do not advise this.

Ultimately, it is your responsibility as the applicant to verify your application status on your Home page is Complete.

• Deadline Reminders: Deadline reminder emails are typically sent two (2) weeks and one (1) week prior to the application deadline.
• Recommendation/School Cost Verification Deadline Reminders: You may receive a notification after the application deadline but prior to the recommendation deadline if your recommendation is still incomplete.
• Selection Results: Selection results notifications are sent to all Complete applicants.
• Funds Disbursed: Once your funds have been issued, you will be notified.