Join the Somerville Municipal Scholarship Committee

What is the Municipal Scholarship Committee? 

The mission of the committee is to award scholarships to high school graduates to use toward their higher education expenses. The funding for the scholarships comes from voluntary contributions made by Somerville taxpayers. Scholarship Committee members develop a meeting schedule, review redacted scholarship applications, set criteria for scholarship awards, and make award recommendations.   

Who Can Join? 

All Somerville residents are invited to apply. Desired qualifications include: 

• Willingness to spend time individually evaluating and reviewing anonymous scholarship applications based on materials that will be supplied to you. 

• Openness to learning a numerical rating system and submitting written notes to keep in files to document process and decisions that were made. 

• Ability to work with other reviewers in a team environment, in-person and/or remotely. 

• Openness in revealing any conflict of interest with potential scholarship applicants. 

•  Understanding the need for fairness, objectivity and nondiscrimination within the scholarship selection process. 

• Ability to recognize a need to modify scholarship criteria and other aspects of the award process, if required, and make recommendations for change. 

• Ability to focus on the specific Committee selection criteria in determining the award winners.  

• Using Committee selection criteria, make recommendations on recipients for scholarship for final approval by the mayor. 

What is the Time Commitment? 

The Municipal Scholarship Committee meets once a month during the day or evening from October through April or May. Additional time to meet during the application-to-award process, January through May/June, is required.   

What is the Appointment Process? 

Members are appointed by the Mayor. 

How Do I Apply? 

A letter of interest can be sent via email to ldubuque@somervillema.gov with ‘Scholarship Committee’ and ‘your name’ in the Subject Line by Friday, October 30, 2026. Please include your full name, address, and telephone number with your inquiry.  

For questions, accommodations, or more information, contact the Treasury at (617) 625-6600 ext. 3510 or Linda Dubuque at ldubuque@somervillema.gov.   

To view this update and more City news on the City website, visit somervillema.gov/news. 

The City of Somerville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected category. 

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should contact the ADA Coordinator in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.   

If you need assistance understanding this information, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311). The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter for free.