Scholarship Application Guidelines

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF BENEATH THE SEA® AND ITS SUPPORTERS offer a variety of scholarship and training grant opportunities for young people interested in exploring and protecting the ocean environment. Scholarship/Grant candidates should carefully read the qualifications applicable to each scholarship before applying. Scholarships and training grants are posted on www.BeneathTheSea.org.  Questions can be directed to scholarships@beneaththesea.org.

2020 SCHOLARSHIPS/TRAINING GRANTS GUIDELINES  

Scholarships and Training Grants are only open to residents of the United States and its territories.

1. Applicants may apply for only one scholarship or training grant each year.
2. Applicants must be within the age range for the scholarship or training grant applied for at the time of the application submission.
3. Funds are paid directly to the provider of the services/products acquired by the recipient. 
4. Awards may be considered as taxable income. Beneath The Sea® suggests that you consult with a tax advisor (accountant) to determine how receipt of this award may impact your tax obligation.
5. Applicants applying for a scuba certification award should be aware that they should have no medical contraindications to scuba diving. 
6. The deadline for these scholarships is December 31, 2019 midnight Eastern Standard Time. 
7. Use the standard application form (see link below) and submit on or before the deadline.
8. Two letters of recommendations are required:
   1. Obtain two recommendations from persons in your community, i.e., scuba instructors, teachers, employers, mentors, etc.  
   2. Recommendations must arrive by the deadline or your application will be invalidated.
   3. Give your references enough time to write a recommendation, and follow-up to ensure they have been submitted on or before the deadline.  
   4. Recommendations that are vague and do not give specific examples carry less weight. Provide the references with a copy of the scholarship/training grant description and your completed application form. 
9. Instructions to be given to your references:
   1. The reference should send the recommendation on the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeknUlw_4oR1jG-51US8Gr2cv8eKFdRe7pa4jlLPHjD1sJNVQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
   2. You are required to give your references this link, emailed references will not be accepted.
   3. The recommendation must be dated by December 31, 2019 midnight Eastern Standard Time.  
10. Incomplete applications (e.g., missing letters of recommendation, applicant’s age is outside the indicated range, etc.) are ineligible.
11. Spelling or grammar errors must be avoided. Proof all work, and we suggest you ask someone else to proof it as well.
12. Once you submit your application form, you will receive an email from Google Docs with a copy of your application form. Please retain a copy of this form. 
13. Please direct your questions/inquiries to  scholarships@BeneathTheSea.org
14. Last year’s scholarship/grant recipients are not eligible to apply for the same scholarship in the next two years. (e.g., 2018 Sea of Tomorrow recipient may not apply for that scholarship/grant again until 2021) . However, last year’s recipient may apply for an alternative scholarship/grant in the subsequent year
15.  

NOTE: This application form is not to be used for the following. See instructions for these grants on the Scholarship/Training Grant Descriptions on www.beneaththesea.org.

• Ocean Pals Junior Dive Training Grant
• Jorge Beale Hyperbaric Medicine Training Grant
• Dare2Dream Open Water Certification Training Grant
• SECONN Open Water and Advanced Training Grants    

USE THIS LINK FOR ALL OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS/TRAINING GRANTS

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdq4Quh6IQ7XXuH4uEa-TljNKUUxu0RchhkTDBAFI5bhJkyew/viewform?usp=sf_link