BAM Build-Off applications open August 15, 2026!
BAM Build-Off applications open August 15, 2026!
WorkSmart Career Opportunity Scholarships help Mississippi students in grades 9–12 overcome financial barriers to career and workforce opportunities.
Scholarship availability depends on donations, grants, and community support.
Scholarships are available to eligible Mississippi students, subject to available funding.
Recommend a student, volunteer, or mentor; speak to students, host a workplace tour, provide a career experience, or support a Career Network activity.
You do not need to determine a student's eligibility before making a recommendation.
Use this short form to recommend a student, offer to help, or both.
Students, do you need help paying workforce-related expenses while in grades 9–12?
Apply for a WorkSmart Career Opportunity Scholarship.
Eligible expenses may include workforce training, industry-recognized credential fees, and, for eligible homeschool and private school students, tuition at a Career and Technical Center. Awards are based on eligibility and available funding.
Your donation helps remove financial barriers that may keep students from participating in workforce training, earning industry-recognized credentials, purchasing required tools or equipment, or taking part in other approved career opportunities.
Gifts of any size help WorkSmart create more opportunities for students as funding grows.
Please reach us at info@worksmartfoundation.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Mississippi students in grades 9–12 may apply.
Students may attend public school, private school, or homeschool. Applicants must be pursuing or seeking an approved career, workforce training, credentialing, or Career and Technical Education opportunity and demonstrate financial need or another barrier to participation.
Scholarships may help cover approved career-related expenses such as:
Whenever possible, WorkSmart pays the school, training provider, testing organization, transportation provider, or approved vendor directly.
Scholarship decisions are based on factors such as eligibility, financial need or another barrier, the requested career opportunity, urgency, the student's goals and commitment, other available assistance, and the amount of scholarship funding available.
Completing an application does not guarantee an award. The WorkSmart Foundation makes final scholarship decisions.
Students are expected to participate in the funded opportunity and make reasonable progress.
Depending on the scholarship, students may also be asked to participate in a WorkSmart Career Network, develop or update a résumé or career plan, complete a career-building experience, or participate in other reasonable WorkSmart activities.
Specific requirements will be explained before the student accepts an award.
Yes. Parents, teachers, counselors, employers, church leaders, community members, and others may recommend a student.
You do not need to determine whether the student is eligible before making a recommendation. The student must still complete the scholarship application and meet eligibility requirements.
Yes. A donor or sponsor may recommend a student and explain why they believe the student should be considered.
However, donations cannot be restricted or conditioned on an award being made to a particular student. The WorkSmart Foundation retains full authority over all scholarship decisions.
Most completed applications are reviewed within approximately 7–10 business days.
Students with an upcoming enrollment, training, testing, or payment deadline should include that information in the application.
No. WorkSmart Career Opportunity Scholarships do not have to be repaid.
Email info@worksmartfoundation.org.