Paul S. Mills Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Foundation for Financial Service Professionals
Overview — Paul S. Mills Scholarship
History and purpose
The Paul S. Mills Scholarship was established in 1984 and honors Paul Mills, who served as the Society of FSP’s second executive vice president. From its founding through 2012, these awards recognized FSP members for their service and encouraged ongoing professional education. In 2013 the board of trustees revised the program to focus on students working toward degrees in financial services, with an emphasis on helping those with demonstrated financial need who might otherwise be unable to complete their studies.
Program growth and impact
Since its start, the program’s visibility and applicant pool have steadily increased. The scholarship typically receives 150 or more applications each year from students at a broad variety of U.S. institutions — large public universities, Ivy League schools, and community colleges alike. Cumulative scholarship funding awarded through the program exceeds $375,000.
Who may apply (Eligibility)
- U.S. citizens or legal residents living in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.
- Students (full- or part-time) enrolled in a U.S. college or university who have completed the equivalent of one academic year of undergraduate credit, or students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree.
- Individuals studying in a financial-services-related program, such as finance, accounting, insurance or risk management, actuarial science, or personal financial planning.
- Applicants must demonstrate financial need by providing a FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR).
Who is not eligible
Employees of NAIFA, its affiliates, and subsidiaries are not eligible, nor are their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their spouses) or anyone residing in the employee’s household, whether related or not.
Award details
Twelve recipients will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. Awards are issued as checks made payable to the educational institution designated by the student and will be mailed to the recipient.
How to apply
Complete the online application during the filing period and submit a 500-word essay explaining your reasons for pursuing education in the financial services field and why the scholarship would be important to you. You must also upload your FAFSA Student Aid Report so financial need can be assessed.
Important dates and notification
- Application availability and filing period: Applications open annually on February 1 and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on March 31.
- Notification: Scholarship recipients will be informed by e-mail no later than June 30. Ensure the e-mail address on your application is current and monitored regularly.
- Payment: Awards will be disbursed on or about July 1. As noted above, checks will be made payable to the college or university you designate and mailed to the address you provide. Please confirm your mailing and e-mail information is accurate on your application.
For additional questions about the application or documentation requirements, contact the program administrator (contact details provided on the application portal).