Book Scholarships

We provide book scholarships to students of families who work in the Maine fisheries

2021 Book Scholarship Application
2020 Awards Winner List

100% of the proceeds from our Thursday night silent auction and Friday night live auction are given out to kids from Maine seafood families – and that is an unusual event in today’s tight economy!  Anything that you might be able to donate would be greatly appreciated – especially by the kids who, with our hope and blessings, will do Maine and its citizens proud in their future endeavors.

The Maine Fishermen’s Forum Book Scholarship Fund was established for the benefit of immediate family members (son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter) of anyone actively participating in Maine’s seafood industry.  Undergraduates attending a two or four year college who are in at least their second year of their program are eligible for book scholarships of at least $1,000.00.

Donations to the book scholarship fund are always welcome, and are tax deductible since the Maine Fishermen’s Forum is a non-profit organization.

The Maine Fishermen’s Forum Board of Directors is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Forum Book Scholarship Awards.

The next drawing for this book scholarship will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021  at the Samoset Resort in Rockport during the 46th annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum.  Applications will be available for downloading at a later date or by sending a SASE to Maine Fishermen’s Forum, PO Box 288, Bath, ME  04530 when the applications for 2021 become available.  The deadline date for submission is March 3, 2021.

“Thank You for awarding me a scholarship book award at the 44th Maine Fishermen’s Forum. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of our fishing community, and I have immense pride in the hard work and dedication that made this fishing scholarship possible. I will be entering my senior year at Harvard College, and am thankful for the role that this award plays in reducing the financial burden of higher education.”

Marvin Merritt IV, Deer Isle2019 Book Scholarship Winner

“I want to write and personally thank you for your scholarship through the Maine Fisherman’s Forum.  I received one of your $6,000 scholarships and I am so grateful for your generosity.

I am currently finishing my sophomore year at Grove City College in Western PA with a major in history and a minor in bible and religion.  I am a thirteenth-generation Mainer and a third-generation lobsterman.  My experience growing up on the coast of Maine surrounded by my family’s history is what prompted me to pursue history.

For as long as I can remember, I have been surrounded by the ocean and boats.  This summer, I am coming back to Maine to fish on my sister’s lobster boat in the Blue Hill area.

My sister and I grew up going to the Maine Fisherman’s Forum every year with my father and grandfather.  Those memories of driving to Rockland and running around the forum “talking shop” with the two of them are still some of my favorite memories.

I want to come back to Maine with my degree and start a business creating more comfortable marine gear.  In this way, I hope to invest in Maine’s future and build a stronger and more vibrant fishing industry.

Thank you for your generosity and for fueling my dreams.”

Grace Tarr, Blue Hill area2019 Book Scholarship Winner