The deadline to submit an application for the MAS County Employee Scholarship Program is quickly approaching. The application must be received by February 1, 2020 at the MAS office (793 North President Street, Jackson, MS 39202.
The Mississippi Association of Supervisors County Employee Scholarship Program will award $500 scholarships to qualifying students in each of Mississippi’s 82 counties meeting the eligibility requirements below. Counties will receive up to two $500 scholarships: one scholarship for participation in each of the MAS Insurance Trust (property and casualty insurance) and the MPE Workers Compensation Trust. Scholarships will be awarded based on applicant’s county of permanent residence.
Click here to download the 2020 County Employee Scholarship Application Form.
Click here to download a Statement of Intent for 2020 scholarship recipients.
Eligibility Requirements.
Applicant must meet all criteria listed below:
- Applicant must identify an eligible Sponsor. "Sponsor" may be the Applicant or Applicant's immediate family member (parent, stepparent, grandparent, step-grandparent, legal guardian or spouse) who is currently employed by or retired from Mississippi county government.
- Dependents of elected county officials are not eligible for this Scholarship Program.
- Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi.
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and demonstrate community/civic involvement.
- Applicant must be enrolled (or plan to enroll) in an accredited public Mississippi college, junior or community college, or university for the Fall 2020 semester.
- If awarded a scholarship, Applicant must sign a Statement of Intent to attend an accredited public Mississippi college, junior or community college, or university for the Fall 2020 semester. Failure to sign the Statement of Intent before August 1, 2020 will result in forfeiture of scholarship. A sample Statement of Intent is available here.
Application Instructions.
- ALL sections of this application must be completed and submitted with each of the required attachments. Incomplete applications will be rejected. Required documents include:
- Completed 2020 County Employee Scholarship Application Form.
- Letter or transcript on school letterhead evidencing student’s current GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Does not have to be an official transcript, but MUST clearly state GPA.
- Letter on county letterhead evidencing employment or retirement of Sponsor (non-elected county employee or retired non-elected county employee).
- Typed essay (up to 750 words): There are many different roles within county government: supervisor, clerk, sheriff's deputy, road worker, tax assessor, etc. Choose one county official or employee, and discuss the duties and responsibilities of that person. Be specific and creative. What does that person do in a typical day at work? How do they interact with other county offices? How does their job impact you personally, your family and your community?
- Please type or print legibly in blue or black ink. If additional space is needed, you may attach other pages to the application form.
- Questions? Contact Stephanie Spangler via sspangler@massup.org or by calling 601.353.2741.
- Deadline to apply is February 1, 2020. Application packets must be received at the MAS Office no later than 4:30 p.m. on February 1, 2020. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Send completed application with all attachments to:
Via U. S. Mail: MAS Scholarship Program, 793 N. President St., Jackson, MS 39202
Via email to: sspangler@massup.org
Via fax to: (601) 353-2749, Attention: Scholarship Program
Scholarship FAQs.
1. What is MAS?
The Mississippi Association of Supervisors (MAS) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit support association for Mississippi’s 82 counties. Since its inception in 1908, MAS has been committed to the improvement of county government across our state. Find out more at our website www.mssupervisors.org.
2. Who is eligible to apply?
The MAS County Employee Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors, current college students, homeschooled students meeting eligibility criteria, and county employees or their spouses taking college courses. Applicant must be enrolled (or plan to enroll) in an accredited public Mississippi college, junior or community college, or university for the Fall 2018 semester.
Applicants must have an immediate family member (parent, stepparent, grandparent, step-grandparent, legal guardian or spouse) who is a current or retired employee of one of Mississippi’s 82 counties. Dependents of elected county officials are not eligible for this scholarship program.
3. What is the deadline to apply?
Completed applications must be received at the MAS office no later than 4:30 p.m., February 1, 2020.
Applications must be mailed to MAS Scholarship Program, 793 N. President St., Jackson, MS 39202; emailed to sspangler@massup.org; or faxed to 601.349.2749, Attn: Scholarship Program.
4. My (parent/grandparent) works for a county, but I live in another state. Can I apply for this scholarship?
No. Applicants must be a U. S. citizen and a legal resident of the State of Mississippi.
5. My (parent/grandparent) works for a county, but I live in a different county in Mississippi. Can I apply for this scholarship?
Yes. Scholarships are awarded based on the Applicant’s county of permanent residence, which does not have to be the same county for which the qualifying family member works.
6. My (parent/grandparent) is an elected official (Supervisor/Chancery Clerk/Circuit Clerk/Tax Assessor/Sheriff/etc.). Can I apply for this scholarship? What if they are a retired elected official?
No. Because of Mississippi ethics laws, elected county officials are not eligible sponsors for this program, regardless of whether they are currently in office or retired.
7. Are county school districts, teachers/educators or county hospital employees eligible?
No. Only those directly employed by (or retired from) a county government are eligible. County school districts, county hospitals and other county-owned businesses are separate entities, not county departments. Sponsor must receive pay check from the county (i.e., Hinds County, Mississippi), and not from a separate entity (i.e., Hinds County School District).
8. I applied for the MAS County Employee Scholarship last year but was not awarded a scholarship. May I apply this year?
Yes, you may reapply this year as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
9. I was awarded an MAS County Employee Scholarship last year. May I apply again this year?
No, the scholarship is a one-time award.