MISA Student Scholarship
Direct application
Eligibility
About this scholarship
Students enrolled at an accredited Michigan university, community college, or trade school, or Michigan residents enrolled in an accredited online program, may apply for the Michigan Information Systems Association Student Scholarship. Applicants need a 2.50+ GPA and at least four hours of local volunteer or community service in the prior year.
Four merit-based awards of up to $5,000 recognize academic excellence and professional achievement in information technology. Funds may be used for tuition and books.
Download the MSSA-1 application from the MISA website and submit the completed form, essay on an IT-related topic, and supporting documents in PDF format. A faculty sponsor letter from an academic advisor or program dean is required, and finalists may be interviewed by phone.
The essay is the most heavily weighted part of the application. The committee evaluates grammar, spelling, clarity, and relevance to information technology.
Essay question
What else to submit
- Completed MSSA-1 application
- Essay on an information-technology-related topic
- Current official or unofficial transcript
- Community Service Form
- Faculty sponsor letter / Student Enrollment Verification and Academic Achievement Form
- Supervisor Endorsement Form, if employed as a student employee
- Supporting documents submitted electronically in PDF format
- Essay is the most critical evaluated piece; judged on grammar, spelling, articulation, and relevance to the topic
- Essay length: between 2-3 pages (PDF), NOT counting the Work Cited page; no word/character limit is given — the limit is stated in pages
- Essay formatting: Times New Roman font, size 12; 1" margins all sides; left aligned; paragraphs indented 5 spaces (tab)
- Cover page must include a title, name, and date; include the title in the header and page numbers in the footer
- Cite outside references on a separate last page titled 'Work Cited' in MLA or APA format
- No handwritten essays accepted (except required signatures); submit electronically in PDF format only
- Cumulative GPA of 2.50 or better required; submit current transcript (official or unofficial)
- Minimum of 4 hours of local volunteer/community service within the previous 12 months (Community Service Form)
- Must be sponsored by an Academic Advisor or Program Dean (Student Enrollment Verification / Academic Achievement Form, MSSA-1)
- Supervisor Endorsement Form required for student employees
- Open to students at an accredited university, community college, or trade school in Michigan (or accredited online institution while residing in Michigan)
- Email completed application and all documents to ssa@mymisa.org; deadline 05/29/2026 by 11:59 PM
- The 2–3-page essay must follow specified formatting and citation rules and is the most heavily weighted application component.
- Finalists may be interviewed by phone.