Competition underway for MRA scholarships

The Michigan Retailers Association’s annual college scholarship competition is underway.

At least 36 scholarships of up to $1,000 will be available to MRA members, employees and their children who will be attending college in the 2007-2008 academic year. The scholarship program has provided financial aid to 133 students since it was revised and expanded in 1999.

Those eligible to apply are current high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are:

• Dependent sons and daughters of owners or full-time employees of MRA-member businesses. The parent employee must have been employed by an MRA-member business since January 1, 2006; or

• Part-time employees who are full-time students. Part-time employees must have been employed by an MRA-member business since July 1, 2006.

Scholarship recipients are selected by an independent panel of educators chosen by Scholarship Program Administrators of Nashville, Tennessee, which coordinates the application and selection process for MRA and many other associations and companies.

Members will receive detailed information about the scholarship program via mail by early February. Applications must be submitted to Scholarship Program Administrators by April 2.

Students are encouraged to complete the application process online here (the access code is MIRA).

Students may also contact Retha Lachance at 800.366.3699 or rlachance@retailers.com by March 15 to request an application by mail.

Awards are $500 for community college students and $1,000 for students of public or private colleges. Recipients are selected for their above-average academic performance and extracurricular activities. Financial need is not a consideration.