Blue Collar Scholar Application
Whether you are stepping into trade school, starting an apprenticeship, or picking up your first professional toolset, this program is designed to put real resources behind your grit.
Please fill out the form below accurately and share your story with us.
Before you begin, please confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements for Blue Collar Scholar.
- Are you at least sixteen (16) years of age as of the date of application? *
Applicants under the age of majority in their state of legal residence must obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian to apply and to participate in any Program-related media or promotional activities.
- Are you a legal resident of the United States? *
(including the 50 states and the District of Columbia)
- Are you pursuing or intending to pursue a career in the skilled trades, including but not limited to: *
Carpentry, masonry, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, welding, heavy equipment operation, excavation, roofing, concrete work, drywall, painting, automotive or diesel mechanics, solar installation, wind energy technology, lineman work, pipefitting, ironworking, glazing, flooring, insulation, locksmithing, or similar skilled trade occupations?
- Are you a current employee, officer, or director of Deer Management Systems, LLC? *
- Its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, franchisees, licensees, dealers, distributors, advertising and promotion agencies, and any third-party administrator engaged in connection with Blue Collar Scholar
- Or a member of their immediate families (defined as spouse, domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, and step-parents/step-children/step-siblings) and person residing in the same household
These individuals are not eligible to apply. See the full eligibility requirements here: Terms & Conditions
If you are a recipient of the Blue Collar Scholar award, how do you plan to use the funds? *
Are you under the legal age of adulthood in your state, thus requiring a parent or guardian's permission to apply?
The legal age of adulthood is 18 years of age or older in most states, 19 years of age in Alabama and Nebraska, and 21 years of age in Mississippi.
Because you are under the legal age of adulthood in your state, a parent or legal guardian must grant permission for you to apply and participate in the program. An email will be sent to the parent or guardian identified below.
Record a short 3 to 5-minute video answering the questions listed below. Keep it real—no fancy editing or professional equipment needed! Grab your phone, stand in your garage, jobsite, or workshop, and talk to us like a future colleague.
QUICK VIDEO TIPS:
- Keep it authentic. Good lighting and clear audio matter more than crisp editing. Holding your phone vertically (portrait mode) works best!
- Don't include other identifiable people in your video unless you have their written permission.
- Only film where you have permission to be and to record, and follow all site safety rules.
- Avoid third-party logos and brand marks on screen.
- Avoid license plates, street addresses, and phone numbers on screen.
- Use original or properly licensed audio only.
QUESTIONS TO COVER IN YOUR VIDEO:
- Who are you? (Name, State you Live in, current situation, and a quick snippet about who you are as a person).
- What trade are you pursuing and why? (What drew you to this field? A mentor, a family tradition, or a hands-on project? What is your "why"?).
- What would being a recipient of Blue Collar Scholar mean to you? (How will it change your current situation or unlock new opportunities?).
- How will you spend the funds? (Break down your tool list, tuition costs, gear requirements, or testing fees).
- What drives you? (Why do you take pride in physical work, and what excites you about building a career in the trades?).
- Optional Prompt: Mention a mentor who inspired you, a big myth about the trades you'd love to bust, or where you see yourself in five years.
VIDEO SUBMISSION LINK*
Upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, or Loom and paste the link below so that it can be reviewed.
IMPORTANT: Our judges need to be able to watch and download your video to score your application. Before you hit submit, make sure your privacy settings match your platform:
- YouTube: Set visibility to Unlisted (do NOT set to Private).
- VIMEO: Set privacy to Unlisted and make sure "Allow downloads" is toggled ON.
- Loom: Set to "Anyone with the link" and turn "Allow viewers to download" ON.
Validating link...
Please review and check all required boxes below to finalize your submission.
ACCURACY STATEMENT*
How did you hear about the Blue Collar Scholar program? *
Follow DEFEND on social media for Blue Collar Scholar updates, recipient stories and future program announcements.
Based on your response, you do not meet the core eligibility criteria at this time. To qualify for the Blue Collar Scholar program, applicants must be at least 16 years of age, legal residents of the United States (50 states or D.C.), actively pursuing or planning to pursue a career in the skilled trades, and not be a family member or affiliate of Deer Management Systems, LLC.
While you are unable to move forward with an application today, we appreciate your interest in the trades and encourage you to stay connected with the program. Here is what you can do:
Nominate Someone Else:
If you know a friend, apprentice, student, or family member who qualifies and deserves financial support for their trade journey, submit a nomination on our "Nominate Someone" Form.
Apply in the Future:
If your career focus or age status changes to meet the requirements, please check back for future application cycles!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND KEEP PUSHING FORWARD!