mikeroweWORKS Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship

To be eligible for this award, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be a high school senior, high school graduate, or have a GED equivalent.
• Be able to provide a current tuition bill or cost statement from your school. You cannot submit an application without providing it.
• 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.

Note: Former scholarship recipients can apply for second-year funding.

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.

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

You can apply for this scholarship anytime between Monday, February 23, 2026, through Saturday, October 31, 2026.

We will award scholarships four times a year, based on when your application is submitted. Scholarships will not be awarded for programs that have already completed.
• June 2026 – Apply by April 30, 2026
• August 2026 – Apply by June 30, 2026
• October 2026 – Apply August 30, 2026
• December 2026 – Apply by October 31, 2026

To be considered for a scholarship in 2026, you must apply by October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time Zone.

The application is completed online. New applicants must:

1. Sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge. S.W.E.A.T. stands for “Skill & Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo.” To learn more about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, watch Unpacking the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge videos HERE.
2. Answer 4 short questions about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge.
3. Make a 45-60 second video.
4. Have 2 solid references submit their recommendations.
   • Recommendations will be completed online. We only accept references from a boss, supervisor, teacher, or someone you have reported to. Anyone other than a boss, supervisor, or teacher are not eligible.
   • Former work ethic scholarship recipients: We only accept references from an instructor in your current program or a current boss. Any other references, other than a current instructors or bosses, are not eligible.
5. Verify your college or vocational/technical school costs. Submit your tuition bill or cost statement from your school.
6. Provide your high school or college transcript.
   • If this is your first year in your program, submit your high school transcript. We will accept unofficial transcripts from your school. Unofficial transcripts must contain your complete name.
   • Former work ethic scholarship recipients: You must send us your transcript from the prior year or semester in your current program. We will accept unofficial transcripts from your school.

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.

• 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.

• 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.