Sheet Metal Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Sheet Metal Workers' International Scholarship Foundation

Purpose
The Sheet Metal Workers’ International Scholarship program exists to support higher education for members of the sheet metal union and their families so they can fully participate in an expanding global economy. Below is a clear, teacher-style guide to the awards, who can apply, and how to complete the application correctly.

What scholarships are available
- Sheet Metal Workers’ International Scholarship Fund
- 34 scholarships of $6,000 per year, renewable for up to four years for full‑time undergraduate study.
- Two special scholarships (for Mechanical Engineering or Architecture students) are funded differently: up to five years total, $6,000 the first year and $12,000 per year for years two through five (total value $54,000). These two may be awarded to participants or eligible dependents enrolled in those majors.
- Important restriction: only applicants from locals that participate by collectively bargaining to contribute (or authorize check-offs) at one cent per hour worked are eligible for the four‑year Fund scholarships.
- Scholarship Foundation awards (single-year)
- 20 awards of $4,000 (one year).
- 2 awards of $5,000 (one year): the Joseph J. Nigro award and the Joey Nigro, Jr. memorial award.
- Applicants who do not qualify for the four‑year Fund scholarships will be considered for these single‑year Foundation scholarships.

Who selects the winners
An independent selection committee — made up of respected union, academic, and civic leaders — chooses the winners. The committee is independent of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) and bases decisions on academic records, recommendations, and an essay. Annual selections are published in the fall issue of The Members’ Journal.

Eligibility — the essentials
To be considered you must meet these conditions:
- Relationship to the union: be an active member of the former SMWIA (now part of SMART), a covered employee, or be an eligible dependent (spouse or child) of a SMART/SMWIA member or covered employee.
- Student status: be a full‑time undergraduate student or have been accepted as a full‑time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university. The scholarship is for undergraduate study only and may be used for any field.
- Dependent rules: dependents must be under age 25, unmarried, and claimed as a dependent on the eligible member’s federal tax return. Grandchildren are not eligible.
- Read the application definitions (member, dependent, spouse, full‑time) on the form carefully — they explain important details.

How to apply — step by step
1. Request the application
- Obtain an Application Request Form from the Scholarship Programs Office between September 1 and February 15.
- You can download and print the form, complete it online and email it, or use the printed form in the fall Members’ Journal.
- If you email a form, make sure you have an up‑to‑date Adobe Reader and save the document before sending.
- The Scholarship Programs Office will review your request and mail the correct application packet (Fund or Foundation) to the address you provide.

2. Complete the application packet (when you receive it)
Be sure to include everything listed below. Missing items or signatures will disqualify the application and you will not be notified.
- Member and applicant information: full details about the SMART/SMWIA member (including International Association membership number), the local union number of the member and, if different, the local in whose jurisdiction the member worked in the prior calendar year.
- Official transcript: an official transcript showing the unweighted GPA. High school seniors must include the high school transcript in an officially sealed envelope. College students must submit an official college transcript.
- Letter of recommendation: include at least one letter of recommendation as specified in the packet.
- Essay: a one‑ to two‑page essay on the topic provided in the instruction packet.

Deadlines and important notes
- Application Request Forms accepted only from September 1 through February 15.
- Read the instructions carefully before you submit. An incomplete packet — for example, a missing signature or missing transcript — will be disqualified and will not be acknowledged.
- Keep copies of everything you send and track delivery if possible.

If you want, I can help you draft the essay prompt response, review a checklist of your application materials, or walk through what to put in the recommendation request.