Coastal Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Scholarship

This scholarship supports the State of Mississippi’s comprehensive regional strategy and investments to establish the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a national leader in ocean science and engineering and maritime technology development, testing, evaluation and training. Applicants must have completed at least a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 or better GPA in an engineering-related discipline. Those with non-engineering related degrees must show work experience in an engineering-related discipline. Applicants will submit an essay describing how an MBA fits with their career goals and how they expect to support ocean science and engineering and maritime technology development, testing, evaluation and training on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Scholarship recipients are expected to attend at least one in-person Gulf Blue Navigator event per semester while enrolled in the MBA, and share their experience at a recruiting event in their final semester.

Award
Vaires
Deadline
12/31/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. In an essay of 500–1,000 words, explain how your education, professional experience, career goals, and interest in earning an MBA align with the purpose of the Coastal Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Scholarship.

    Your essay should address the following:
    1. Your background and career goals: Briefly describe your engineering-related education or work experience and explain your short- and long-term career goals.
    2. The role of an MBA: Explain how earning an MBA will complement your technical knowledge or professional experience and help you achieve your career goals. Identify the business, leadership, entrepreneurial, financial, or strategic skills you hope to develop.
    3. Your contribution to the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Describe how you expect to use your combined technical and business knowledge to support the State of Mississippi’s efforts to establish the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a national leader in ocean science and engineering and maritime technology development, testing, evaluation, and training.
    4. A specific opportunity or area of impact: Identify a problem, opportunity, industry, technology, or area of interest in which you believe you could contribute. Explain how your background and MBA education could help you develop, evaluate, commercialize, manage, or implement solutions in that area.

    Use specific examples whenever possible. Your essay should demonstrate a clear connection among your prior experience, MBA education, career plans, and potential contribution to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. You are not required to address development, testing, evaluation, and training equally, but you should clearly explain the area or areas in which you expect to make the greatest contribution.