The Merchants Exchange Scholarship is designed to help students seeking or advancing careers in a field related to the Maritime Industry and/or International Trade, by providing resources for their continued education. The Scholarship is awarded by merit to students seeking or advancing a career in the maritime industry, or that influences the maritime industry. The Scholarship is awarded to students who have a minimum 3.0 GPA (or the school%s equivalent rankings) and are currently a junior or senior academic standing enrolled in a 4-year college/university; a freshman (first-year) or sophomore (second-year) at a 2-year institutional degree program; a graduate student; or a student in a US Coast Guard-approved course. The student must have a declared major/minor related to the Maritime Industry and/or International Trade as their chosen field of study. To apply, applicants must complete a short online application, provide certified academic transcripts and submit one (1) letter of recommendation from a professor or direct supervisor. Awards can be used towards tuition, fees, and books. Awards are dispersed to the recipient%s institution of learning by September.