Program Description

McBain Rural Agricultural School Foundation Scholarship Program Description

The McBain Rural Agricultural School Foundation (MRASF) was established in 1999 as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. The objective of the MRASF is to raise money and manage a program to provide scholarships to students graduating from the McBain Rural Agricultural School who have the ability, desire, drive, energy and enthusiasm to attend a college, community college, vocational school or other post-secondary education program of their choice.

Scholarship applicants must have exhibited exemplary character qualities and moral standards throughout their high school years. Illustrations of these qualities include: honesty, integrity, good work ethic, selfless attitude, respect for others and a positive mental attitude.

Although academic achievement is not paramount, the recipient must have proven success in the classroom or be assessed by teachers as having potential for success.

The applicant’s interest may be toward a career goal not always associated with a four-year degree. Students planning a four-year degree program, vocational school or other post-secondary education program are eligible for a scholarship.

The applicant must complete and submit the MRASF scholarship application on or before the Friday before Spring Break. The applicant must provide proof of acceptance to (or intent to attend) a post-secondary institution starting in the fall after graduation. The applicant must also include two letters of recommendation and provide a statement about the financial need for assistance.

The scholarship recipients will be selected by a high school committee, which includes high school teachers or other qualified staff, the high school counselor and high school principal.

The scholarship will be paid on a one-time basis, following the successful completion of the first year of post-secondary education. In order to receive a MRASF scholarship payment, the student must carry a full load, obtain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and complete and submit the MRASF scholarship payout form by August 1st after conclusion of the school year.

These scholarships have been made possible by the generosity of several donors, most of whom are McBain Rural Agricultural School Alumni or who have other McBain community connections. Currently, the scholarships are between $1,000 and $4,000 each. The number of scholarships and amount of each scholarship is determined each year by the MRASF Board of Directors.

There is a need for additional donors to make more scholarship funds available. Monies donated are invested by the MRASF so the funds available for scholarships continue to grow. Donors can designate their gifts to be one of the following types:

  • Perpetuity (the fund continues forever-scholarships are awarded only from the fund growth)
  • Pass-through (the amount of the scholarship is designated each year-for a number of years)
  • Annual or one-time scholarship