NVME has opened the Gilda E. Nardone (GEN) Scholarship application. Awards of up to $1,000 each will be given to help defray the cost of college tuition and other education expenses for the 2027-28 academic year. The application is available online and the deadline is Friday, January 31, 2027.

Kari Hersey, a 2026 awardee, said of the impact of the scholarship, “Receiving the $1,000 GEN Scholarship has made a meaningful difference in my ability to continue my education. As an adult learner balancing full-time coursework, parenting, and many other responsibilities, this scholarship has helped reduce financial stress by covering educational expenses such as textbooks and technology that are not always covered by financial aid. Kari’s story is featured on the NVME website.

The GEN Endowed Scholarship Fund was established to honor the legacy of long-time NVME Executive Director, Gilda E. Nardone and her commitment to education access and success for adult learners.

The scholarship committee, made up of NVME Advisory Council members, will accept applications up until the deadline of January 31, 2027. Recipients must be residents of Maine and complete the NVME My Money Works, My Next Career Move, or Venturing Forth class. Earning the UMS Financial Literacy Micro-Credential also fulfills the class requirement. Recipients demonstrate financial need and may receive additional supports, such as individual coaching, through NVME through graduation.

Gifts to the fund ensure that graduates of NVME’s career, financial, and business development programs will receive financial and other support services to attend college and complete their degrees in Maine at any University of Maine System location, any Maine Community College, or the University of New England. To donate to the fund, visit the UMA giving portal.