Amount: Varies. About: Mike Rowe, who served as an apprentice on the TV series “Dirty Jobs,” created the Work Ethic Scholarship Program to promote skilled labor. Awarded through his mikeroweWORKS Foundation, the scholarships are intended to encourage students to learn a useful skill. In 2022, the foundation awarded a total of $1.5 million in work ethic scholarships to 250 recipients. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled or plan to enroll in an approved trade program at an accredited two-year college, vocational or technical school, sign the S.W.E.A.T. (“Skills and Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo) Pledge, answer four questions about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, make a video, submit two references from a teacher or a supervisor, verify their school costs, provide a transcript, and submit the most recent Form 1040 tax form.
Eligible Grade Levels: High School Senior, High School Graduate, GED
Eligible Majors: Automotive Technology, Aviation Technology, Carpentry, Commercial Driving, Construction, Diesel Technology, Electrical Technology, Emergency Medical Technology, Farming and Agriculture, Fire Science and Technology, Heavy Equipment Operation, HVAC Machinery, Manufacturing, Marine Technology, Pipefitting, Plumbing, Welding
Residency Requirement: No residency requirement
Minimum GPA: No GPA requirement
Deadline: Application is currently closed. Please note that scholarship deadlines often change, so make sure to check the scholarship sponsor’s website for up-to-date deadlines.