Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Fund

Selection Criteria

This four-year college scholarship is open to all DC Public and Public Charter School seniors.  It is made possible by three Quaker Meetings: Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW), Langley Hill Friends Meeting, and Bethesda Friends Meeting. The scholarship was established in 1981, and in 1993 it was named for Mary Jane Simpson, an FMW member who had been a social worker in the DC public schools.  It is supported entirely through donations by individuals and contributions by the three Meetings.

Students with demonstrated drive and determination to succeed in college, solid academic achievement, strong financial need,* success in overcoming past obstacles, strong values, and contributions to community.  Recipients are chosen by a committee of the three sponsoring Meetings. 2025 Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Flyer

*The committee focuses its awards on students whose families cannot contribute to their college education, which typically means families with household incomes well lesss than $50,000.  The committee uses the Federal FAFSA form or the parent's federal tax form to determine eligibility. Most awardees have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of no more than a few hundred dollars.

Important Dates

  • Monday, February 10, 2025: Opening day of application season

  • Sunday, April 20, 2025: Closing day of application season

  • Sunday, April 27, 2025: 1st Round of application review opens

  • Monday, May 11, 2025: 1st Round of application review closes

  • Wednesday, May 14, 2025: 2nd Round of application review opens

  • Sunday, May 25, 2025: 2nd Round of application review closes

  • Monday, May 26, 2025 through Sunday, June 7, 2025: Semi-Finalists notified via email, tasked with submitting additional documentations, including a financial questionnaire, and interviews scheduled

  • Saturday, June 14, 2025: Semi-Finalist Interviews & Finalist Decisioning

  • Monday, June 23, 2025: Finalist Scholar Award Letters sent via email

Award Details

Number of Scholarships to be Awarded this Year: 4-5.

Amount Awarded per Student: $2,000 - $4,000 per year `At least $6,000, disbursed $1,500 per year for years one through four of college.

Application Criteria and Instructions

Applications are online only.

Apply

Questions

Questions about the scholarship, criteria, requirements or for those experiencing technical issues with the online platform, or students unable to access the internet, please email mjsimpsonscholarship@gmail.com