Maritime Scholarship - CMA Education Foundation

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CMA Education Foundation Maritime Scholarship Program

The Scholarship Program provides financial support to students who are excelling in maritime studies in college or graduate school and to high school seniors who are interested in pursuing such studies in college. The Jim Lawrence Memorial Scholarship provides financial support for students across a broader spectrum of degree programs including non-maritime programs. (See eligibility requirements.)

Scholarship awards range from $500 to $10,000. In addition to multiple general maritime scholarships, the CMA Education Foundation in 2026 is pleased to introduce two additional special scholarships: The Jim Lawrence Memorial Scholarship and the Castrol Engineering Scholarship. The Jim Lawrence Memorial Scholarship, a $10,000 award, was created to honor the legacy of Jim Lawrence, a maritime entrepreneur (Marine Money, MTI Networks, International Marketing Strategies, Inc), founding member of the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) and the CMA Shipping Conference, Director of the CMA Education
Foundation and ambassador for the global maritime community.

You can read more about Jim Lawrence here.

The Castrol Engineering Scholarship a $2,500 award was created to support the next generation of marine engineers at SUNY Maritime College in New York. Castrol provides lubricants and services to the marine, automotive and industrial sectors (www.castrol.com).

See the eligibility requirements below. Scholarship awards ranging from $7,500 to $10,000 are paid directly to schools as tuition
reimbursement while scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 are awarded and made
payable directly to the student.

All applications are reviewed by the CMA Education Foundation Scholarship Committee and awards are approved by the Board of Directors.

Winners will be based on quality of essay or video submission, faculty reference, academic achievement and those who best demonstrate their interest in a career in the maritime industry. For the top scholarship awards applicants may be invited for an interview via Zoom.

Students who receive awards are permitted to apply again if eligibility requirements are met. Students may also apply for multiple types of scholarships in the same year i.e. general maritime, Jim Lawrence Memorial and Castrol Engineering if eligibility requirements are met.

A Few of Our Maritime Scholarships Recipients

Due on or before March 23, 2026 at 11am EST

Eligibility Requirements for General Scholarships

Undergraduate and graduate school students in the United States at maritime academies (including deck, engine, logistics, non-regimental or non-license students) or at colleges and universities that have maritime related degree programs.
High school students enrolled in schools in the United States with maritime related programs.
Students in their final year of high school or college at a U.S. institution if they are pursuing a maritime related education or career upon completion of their current program.
Maritime professionals who are continuing their maritime education while working in the maritime industry.

Due on or before February 10, 2026 at 11am EST

Eligibility Requirements for the Jim Lawrence Memorial Scholarship

Undergraduate or graduate school students attending an accredited institution in the United States pursuing any of the following degrees: International Relations/Studies; International Politics; Global Studies; Communications; Finance; Economics; Maritime Transportation; Maritime Logistics; or Marine Engineering.
Qualities that Jim Lawrence possessed that the Scholarship Committee is seeking in candidates include a community builder, leader, positive, outgoing, energetic, curious, inspiring, charismatic, encouraging, entrepreneurial and/or inclusive.

Jim Lawrence

Due March 22, 2026 at 11am EST

Eligibility Requirements for the Castrol Engineering Scholarship

Eligible applicants must be students enrolled at SUNY Maritime College pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and a U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer’s license and have completed at least one seaboard training experience.

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Applications

All submissions of files, videos and/or photos should be titled with the student’s first and last name.
Applications must include:
1. Application form,
2. website/press release form,
3. an original non-AI generated essay or alternatively a video essay, answering the specified questions,
4. one reference letter from a faculty member, (Jim Lawrence Memorial Scholarship requires two letters of recommendation from a faculty member, coach and/or employer)
5. a resume,
6. picture of the applicant, please label photo file with first and last name.
Completed applications for the General Maritime Scholarships and the Castrol Engineering Scholarship should be submitted to Beth Wilson-Jordan at Beth@cma-edu.org any time on or before 11:00 AM EST Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Completed applications for the Jim Lawrence Memorial Scholarship should be submitted to Beth Wilson-Jordan at Beth@cma-edu.org any time on or before 11:00AM EST on February 10, 2026.
Applications are reviewed by the CMA EF Scholarship Committee, interviews scheduled and conducted as needed, and awards approved by the Board of Directors.
General and Castrol Engineering scholarship recipients are notified and awards announced and distributed by June 2026.
Jim Lawrence Memorial Scholarship recipient will be notified by March 2, 2026, and the award made at the CMA Shipping Conference on March 12, 2026.

Download Scholarship Application

Maritime Scholarships