Scholarships

Do you want to attend our annual conference and could you use some financial assistance to attend? NMEA offers financial assistance in the form of NMEA member-only scholarships. There are $500 scholarship awards available for NMEA members living in the United States and $1000 scholarship awards for NMEA members living in other countries.

Although member-only scholarship applications are closed for the 2024 conference, we are now accepting applications for our new Equity & Belonging Scholarship in the amount of $1000. Applications are due on May 15, and applicants will be notified approximately one month after the deadline!

Please note: scholarship awardees in all categories have 90 days after the last day of the conference to submit their paperwork and receipts to receive the scholarship.

The travel scholarship I received allowed me to attend my first NMEA national conference. I was able to make invaluable professional connections—as well as forge some truly meaningful friendships. Connecting with like-minded educators was inspiring and helped me refuel my own passion for marine science education. Further, my involvement in NMEA greatly increased as a result of the conference and I am now much more active locally, as well as nationally, in the organization. Thank you NMEA!

~Domestic Scholarship—Hawaii

Equity & Belonging Scholarship

The E&B Scholarship was created by the NMEA Board of Directors in 2024 to strengthen the organization’s commitment to addressing the lack of demographic diversity in its membership and leadership. This award builds on the work of the former Expanding Audiences initiative. The E&B Scholarship is a financial need based scholarship in the amount of $1000 that is open to individuals who have not previously been a member of the national organization (current or previous chapter membership is allowed) and identify as racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people of low socioeconomic status, and/or other underrepresented groups at all levels of marine science education.

Member-only Scholarships

The scholarship program was created by the NMEA Board of Directors in 1995 to assist members in attending the annual conference. Scholarship awards are available for NMEA members living in the U.S. or abroad. The annual NMEA auction, held at each annual conference, provides partial funding for these scholarships. Applicants must be NMEA members in good standing. Chapter membership is a plus, but not required.

Additionally, check out the Johnette D. Bosarge Memorial Award for an additional opportunity to receive conference funding support.