mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarship Program

About this scholarship

The mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarship Program funds hands-on training for people preparing for in-demand skilled jobs. The 2026 application is open in the Foundation’s dedicated ISTS portal, with remaining review rounds closing August 30 and October 31. Awards vary according to tuition need and the strength of the application; the Foundation reports that its first 2026 round made 322 awards ranging from $500 to $34,000, with an average of $9,100. Eligible applicants must be United States citizens who are high-school seniors or graduates and who are enrolled, accepted, or planning to enroll in an accredited approved trade program lasting no more than two years. Four-year programs do not qualify. Approved areas span construction, electrical technology, heavy-equipment operation, plumbing, machining, manufacturing, welding, HVAC, energy, automotive and diesel technology, aviation, commercial driving, agriculture, information technology, associate-level nursing, protective services, veterinary technology, cosmetology, and culinary arts. The application requires school and applicant information, a signed S.W.E.A.T. Pledge with four short responses, a short personal video, two references from teachers, employers, or supervisors, a recent transcript, and an official tuition bill or cost statement. Applicants should use the direct portal rather than a third-party scholarship form.

Eligibility

• Be a United States citizen
• Be a high-school senior or high-school graduate
• Enroll or plan to enroll in an accredited approved skilled-trade program
• Choose a qualifying program that lasts two years or less; four-year programs are ineligible
• Sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge and answer four related short-response questions
• Submit the required short personal video
• Provide two references from teachers, employers, or supervisors
• Upload a recent transcript and an official tuition bill or cost statement
• Submit by the final 2026 deadline of October 31