ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRANT GUIDELINES 2025

Thank you for your interest in a SMBA Elementary School Grant. We are so excited to be able to offer this new opportunity to our younger creative students! The following information will help you understand the process.  Unfortunately, our limited funds make it impossible to recognize all applicants.

• Applicants must be a 4th or 5th grade student to be eligible for a SMBA Elementary School Grant
• Elementary Grants will total $100
• The recipients of Elementary School Grants will be selected from the pool of applicants, NOT by Area of Application or Category.
• All decisions of the SMBA Grant Selection Committee are final.

1. All applications (form & essay) must be completed in full and emailed  to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 25, 2025. Only digital applications will be accepted this year. **Failure to meet this deadline will result in disqualification.
2. Upon submission, a committee member will respond with “Received”.  If you do not receive an email confirmation within 48 hours, please reach out to confirm our receipt.
3. All applicants have to be members of SMBA in the current school year with a minimum of a Family Membership by February 14, 2025.
4. All applicants must have met the minimum of 2 volunteer hours (or a  family member donated the hours in their name) by the April 25, 2025 date, or be signed up for events later in the month. ** Must be completed for the grant to be awarded**
5. All applications must contain a parent’s signature.
6. All applications must include the completed application and essay. 
7. Applicants may only receive one Elementary Grant per year. 
8. All Elementary School Grants will be announced at SMBA’s meeting in June.

Any questions specific to Grants & Scholarships? Contact:

Marisa Castoro  or Jill Lazarus

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SMBA MIDDLE SCHOOL GRANT RULES 2025

Thank you for your interest in a SMBA Middle School Grant.  The following information will help you understand the process.  Unfortunately, our limited funds make it impossible to recognize all applicants.

• Applicants must be a 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student to be eligible for a SMBA MIDDLE SCHOOL GRANT.
• Middle School Grants will total $250
• Complete application includes application form, essay, Letter of Recommendation, & volunteer hours
• The recipients of Middle School Grants will be selected from the pool of all applicants, not by Area of Application or category.

1. All applications must be completed in full and emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Only digital applications will be accepted this year.   **Failure to meet this deadline will result in disqualification.
2. Upon submission, a committee member will respond with “Received”.  If you do not receive an email confirmation within 48 hours, please reach out to confirm our receipt
3. Applicants may apply in more than one Area of Application, and if applicable, sub-category; see application for areas/categories.  If you are applying in more than one area and/or category, you must complete a separate application for each. 
4. Applicants may only receive one Middle School Grant per year.  Additionally, applicants may receive only one Middle School Grant in each category throughout grades 6, 7 and 8.
5. All applications must include the completed application and essay.
6. All applicants have to be members of SMBA in the current school year with a minimum of a Family Membership by February 14, 2025.
7. All applicants must have met the minimum of 2 volunteer hours (or a  family member donated the hours in their name) by the April 25, 2025 date, or be signed up for events later in the month. ** Must be completed for the grant to be  awarded**
8. All applications must contain a parent’s signature.
9. MS Grants require one (1) letter of recommendation from someone who is directly involved in your Area of Application. (Example: a student applying in the category of Strings for a Middle School Grant would request a written recommendation from the orchestra teacher or private study teacher.)  Letter of Recommendation forms are included below.
10. Separate letters of recommendation are recommended for each area and/or category in which you are applying. 
11. It is the applicant’s responsibility to give the recommendation form to the recommending teacher to meet the April 25th, 2025 deadline.  The recommendation should NOT be attached to the application.  The recommendation shall remain confidential.  Teachers will drop the letter of recommendation off to the SMBA box in the middle school guidance office, or mail in to SMBA by April 25, 2025.
12. All Middle School Grants will be announced at SMBA’s final meeting in June

All decisions of the SMBA Grant Selection Committee are final. 

Any questions specific to Grants & Scholarships? Contact:

Marisa Castoro or Jill Lazarus

 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SMBA HIGH SCHOOL GRANT RULES 2025

Thank you for your interest in a SMBA High School Grant.  The following information will help you understand the process.  Unfortunately, our limited funds make it impossible to recognize all applicants.

• Applicants must be a 9th, 10h, or 11th grade student to be eligible for a SMBA HIGH SCHOOL GRANT.
• High School Grants will total $250
• Complete application includes application form, essay, Letter of Recommendation, & volunteer hours
• The recipients of High School Grants will be selected from the pool of all applicants, not by Area of Application or category.

1. All applications must be completed in full and emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 25, 2025.  Only digital applications will be accepted this year.
   **Failure to meet this deadline will result in disqualification.
2. Upon submission, a committee member will respond with “Received”.  If you do not receive an email confirmation within 48 hours, please reach out to confirm our receipt
3. Applicants may apply in more than one Area of Application, and if applicable, sub-category; see application for areas/categories.
4. If you are applying in more than one area and/or category, you must complete a separate application for each.
5. Applicants may only receive one High School Grant per year.  Additionally, applicants may receive only one High School Grant in each category throughout grades 9, 10, and 11.
6. All applications must include the completed application and essay.
7. All applicants have to be members of SMBA in the current school year with a minimum of a Family Membership by February 14, 2025.
8. All applicants must have met the minimum of 3 volunteer hours (or a  family member donated the hours in their name) by the April 25, 2025 date, or be signed up for events later in the month. ** Must be completed for the grant to be awarded**
9. All applications must contain a parent’s signature.
10. HS Grants require one (1) letter of recommendation from people who are directly involved in your Area of Application. (Example: a student applying in the category of Strings for a High School Grant would request written recommendations from orchestra teachers and/or private study teachers).  Separate letters of recommendation are recommended for each area and/or category in which you are applying. 
11. It is the applicant’s responsibility to give the recommendation forms to the recommending teachers to meet the April 25, 2025 deadline.  Recommendations should NOT be attached to applications.  All recommendations shall remain confidential. 
12. All High School Grants will be announced at a date to be determined.

All decisions of the SMBA Grant Selection Committee are final.

Any questions specific to Grants & Scholarships? Contact:

Marisa Castoro  or Jill Lazarus 

 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SMBA Senior Scholarship Application 2025

Thank you for your interest in the SMBA Senior Scholarship. This following information will help you understand the selection process.  Unfortunately, our limited funds make it impossible to recognize all applicants. 

• Applicants must be a graduating senior to be eligible for a SMBA SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP.
• Senior Scholarships will total $750
• A completed application includes an application form, essay, activities resume, audition video/portfolio submitted online via email, 2 Letters of Recommendation, & volunteer hours.
• The recipients of Senior Scholarships will be selected from the pool of all applicants, not by Area of Application or category.

1. All applications must be completed in full and returned to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 25, 2025.  Only digital applications will be accepted this year.
   **Failure to meet the deadline will result in disqualification.
2. Upon submission, a committee member will respond with “Received”.  If you do not receive an email confirmation within 48 hours, please reach out to confirm our receipt
3. Applicants may apply in more than one Area of Application, and if applicable, sub-category; see application for areas/categories.
4. If you are applying in more than one area and/or category, you must complete a separate application for each. 
5. Applicants may receive only one Senior Scholarship.
6. All applications must contain a parent/guardian signature.
7. All applicants had to be members of SMBA in the current school year with a minimum of a Family Membership by February 14, 2025.
8. All applications must include the completed application, resume, and essay.
9. All applicants must have met the minimum of 5 volunteer hours (or a  family member donated the hours in their name) by the April 25, 2025 date, or be signed up for events later in the month. ** Must be completed for the grant to be awarded**
10. Senior scholarships require two (2) letters of recommendation from people who are directly involved in your Area of Application. (Example: a student applying in the category of Strings for a Senior Scholarship would request written recommendations from the orchestra teachers and/or private study teachers.)
    NOTE: We strongly recommended that letters of recommendation are NOT just copies of college application letters of recommendation.
11. Separate letters of recommendation are recommended for each area and/or category in which you are applying.
12. It is the applicant’s responsibility to give the recommendation forms to the recommending teacher/person to meet the April 25th deadline.  Recommendations should NOT be attached to applications.  All recommendations shall remain confidential
13. All Senior Scholarships will be announced at a future date to be determined

All decisions of the SMBA Senior Scholarship Selection Committee are final. 

Any questions? Contact

Marisa Castoro or Jill Lazarus

Jeffrey Hoffman Musical Theater Scholarship Info

Amount: $750 

This scholarship is only awarded to a senior student who applies under the Musical Theater category.  Scholarship recipients are determined by scoring and teacher/committee input.

Any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Updated Letter of Recommendation Information 

• You should provide each teacher with the necessary form when asking for their letter of recommendation.
• Letters must be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• Only digital letters will be accepted this year.
• All letters of recommendation are due by April 25, 2025. 

• Use the link below to view your past and future volunteer hours