Scholarships

Closed for New Applications February 29, 2024
See You Next Year

The North Bay Village Saidi Sisters Memorial Scholarships honor the lives of Maria Saidi and Sofia Saidi, two treasured daughters of our Village whose passions fueled artistic and literary talents. Maria Saidi was a middle school student with an exceptional dedication to the arts and humanities before her early passing. She found joy in creative self-expression through artwork, writing, music, and exploring new intellectual horizons. Her sister Sofia Saidi was a high school student who demonstrated outstanding skills in creative writing alongside stellar academic performance when her promising future was tragically cut short. Sofia delighted in writing and poetry, channeling her imagination to paper. She also excelled across all subjects in school. Though their lives were far too brief, Maria and Sofia’s passions, talents, and inspirational creativity left indelible marks upon all those who knew them. These memorial scholarships aim to carry forth their artistic and academic legacies for generations to come by supporting today’s young aspiring artists and scholars in North Bay Village. We hope these gifts of passion ignite new creative flames within our community.

The North Bay Village Commission has established two annual memorial scholarships to honor the lives and passions of Maria Saidi and Sofia Saidi:
• The Maria Saidi Memorial Scholarship: A $1,000 one-time award for middle school students who demonstrate exceptional dedication to the arts and humanities
• The Sofia Saidi Memorial Scholarship: A $1,000 one-time award for graduating high school students who excel in creative writing and academics
These scholarships seek to inspire and empower future generations to pursue artistic, literary, and intellectual discovery, preserving the inspirational legacies of Maria and Sofia.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Must be resident of North Bay Village
  • Be enrolled in middle school (for the Maria Saidi Scholarship) or high school (for the Sofia Saidi Scholarship) at the time of application
Application Process, Deadlines, & Requirements

Maria Saidi Applicants Must Provide:

  • Samples of artwork, writing, or other creative projects
  • 500-word essay about their passions and how Maria inspires them
  • Letter of recommendation

Sofia Saidi Applicants Must Provide:

  • Original creative writing samples
  • Copy of current transcript showing grades
  • 500-word essay about their passions and how Sofia inspires them
  • Letter of recommendation
 

North Bay Village Saidi Sisters Memorial Scholarships Application

Please Review the application requirements to make sure you include all relevant documents to your application.

Contact Information

Please direct any questions to NBVScholarships@nbvillage.com or visit www.northbayvillage-fl.gov/scholarships for more information or call 305-756-7171

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible to apply? A: North Bay Village middle school students can apply for the Maria Saidi Scholarship, and high school students can apply for the Sofia Saidi Scholarship.

Q: What are the application deadlines? A: The application opens December 15, 2023 and closes February 29, 2024

Q: What materials must be submitted? A: See the application process above for required materials. Creative samples, essays, letters of recommendation, and current transcript.

Q: How and when are award decisions made? A: Our Resident Services Board will evaluate applications and make award decisions by March 31, 2024. Recipients will be notified by email.

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