Mildred Frances Thomas Music Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Provision

Intro
The Mildred Frances Thomas Music Scholarship supports students majoring in music who concentrate in piano and/or organ.

Eligibility
To be considered you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
- Be a music major focusing on piano and and/or organ.
- Have lived in North Carolina for at least one year prior to applying.
- Have been accepted for full‑time study in a degree program at a Baptist college, university, or seminary (full‑time as defined by the institution).
- Belong to a church affiliated with Provision and/or the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
- Demonstrate strong moral character and a commitment to family, church, and community.
- Show a record of steady academic achievement.

Required application materials
- Two current letters of reference (no relatives). One letter must come from your pastor; if your pastor is a relative, include a signed reference from another pastoral staff member at the church. All reference letters must bear an actual signature and be uploaded online with your application. Do not mail hard copies.
- A copy of your most recent transcript (unofficial is acceptable). Upload this with your application.
- Confirmation that you meet and have read the eligibility and guideline requirements (you will be required to check this on the application).

Application timing and submission
- The online application opens January 1 each year.
- The application period closes at close of business on May 1. Close of business is defined as 5:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 12:00 p.m. on Friday. If May 1 falls on a weekend, the deadline moves to the following Monday. The deadline for the 2026–2027 cycle: Friday, May 1, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
- When you successfully submit, an acknowledgment page will appear (“Thank you for the scholarship application submission...”) and you will receive an email confirmation. Print and retain the confirmation as proof. If you do not see the acknowledgement page or do not receive the confirmation email, your application likely was not received—contact scholarships@provision.org.
- Do not upload attachments directly from cloud storage links, as the committee may be unable to open those files.

Reference and transcript delivery
- All documents must be uploaded online with the application. Letters and transcripts submitted in hard copy or mailed to the office will not be accepted.

Selection, awards, and disbursement
- Awards are made annually and are not automatically renewed. Students must reapply each year. Scholarships may be granted for up to four years of undergraduate study and up to three years of graduate study.
- The committee determines the number and amount of awards each year (it may choose to make no awards in a given year). Award amounts range from $500 to $2,500.
- Scholarship funds are paid directly to the recipient’s school at the start of the term/semester for which the award is made. Funds will be released only after Provision receives written verification of enrollment; send enrollment verification by email to scholarships@provision.org. Typically half of the award is applied for the fall term and the remaining half for the spring term.

Notifications and deadlines
- Award notifications are emailed in late May to the address provided on the application.
- Awards must be accepted and written verification of enrollment returned by August 1. Failure to accept and provide enrollment verification by that date will forfeit the scholarship.

Restrictions and important notes
- Applicants for the Mildred Frances Thomas Music Scholarship may not simultaneously apply for the Butler, Clary, Watson, or Bullard Scholarships. The committee will accept only the first submission received; any additional submissions will be disregarded.
- All scholarship inquiries should be sent to scholarships@provision.org.

2026–2027 cycle specifics
- Application opens: January 1, 2026.
- Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and agree to the requirements above, you are eligible to apply.