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What is a scholarship?

A scholarship can change your life. Because education is expensive in the U.S., scholarships open doors that might otherwise stay closed. 

Schools look for highly motivated students who need a helping hand. When a student shows ambition and achievement but lacks financial resources, schools may award a scholarship that reduces or eliminates tuition and other costs. A scholarship lets you study in a program, improve your education, and reach your potential for success.

Do you have a life goal to reach? Do you have the motivation to learn? Do you have a personal history that shows excellence, passion, and hard work? If so, you may be a prime candidate for a scholarship. 

How does the scholarship work?

If you can make the time to attend school full-time, a scholarship means you might not need to pay a lot of money. But first you have to do two things: plan and apply.

First, plan your schedule. Life gets busy with work, family, and other responsibilities. Becoming a scholarship student is a major commitment. Can you attend classes every day? Can you devote your energy to studying by day and doing homework at night? How long can you commit to being a full-time student? One month? Three months? Being realistic is essential to avoid burnout and ensure success.

Then, apply for the scholarship. Contact Macey@ili.edu to ask for an application. You have to be enrolled in ILI’s Free English Program in order to apply.

What does the Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Scholarship offer?

Since spring 2017, Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee has been providing scholarships for our immigrant and refugee students in the Free Evening English Program to enroll in our fee-based in-person Intensive English Program.

Dean’s Beans scholarship recipients join international students for three months in concentrated, full-time learning to significantly improve their English skills in a much shorter period of time. Classes run every morning from 9:00am-12:00pm Monday through Friday and every afternoon from 1:00pm-2:30pm Monday through Thursday. That adds up to 21 hours a week for 12 weeks, all for free with a Dean’s Beans Scholarship.

After completing three months of intensive English study, Dean’s Beans scholars use their improved communication skills for a variety of purposes, such as attending community college, finding employment, and navigating daily life in the U.S.

We appreciate Dean’s generosity and his social activism both locally and around the world. Please, drink Dean’s Beans organic, fair trade and delicious coffee!

Who can apply for this scholarship?

The Dean’s Beans Scholarship is available to students in ILI’s Free English Program. If you’re an immigrant or refugee in Western Massachusetts and you’re not a student in the Free English Program yet, enroll in the free English Program first and once you have been accepted, you can then apply for this scholarship.

If you’re already a student in the Free English Program, maybe you’re ready to take a next step. Do you need to improve your English for school, work, or daily life, and do so in a faster time frame? If you’re interested in becoming a full-time student in the Intensive English Program, you can apply for a Dean’s Beans Scholarship.

Interested in applying?

Interested students from the Free English Evening Program should contact Macey Faiella for the scholarship application (tel. 413.225.1847; macey@ili.edu).

Interested in funding a scholarship?

If you are a business owner or individual interested in supporting the Scholarship Fund, we would love to hear from you. Contact: Caroline Gear for more information (tel. 413.586.7569 x103; caroline@ili.edu)

English Course Options with ILI

The Intensive English Program

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Our intensive English program delivers 21 hours of class time per week with intakes every four weeks. It’s friendly and fun and you’re welcome.

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What to do next

  1. You must be a student in ILI’s Free English Program to apply for this scholarship.
  2. Contact Macey at macey@ili.edu to get the scholarship application.

The ILI Promise

At ILI, we believe that all our actions should stem from grace and loving kindness.

Portrait of Caroline Gear - Executive Director
  • We operate as an equal opportunity organization.
  • We nurture relationships beyond the classroom.
  • We are committed to providing the highest quality language instruction and teacher training.
  • We promote intercultural understanding and celebrate the diversity in our local communities.
  • We work collaboratively to build and sustain the communities we serve.
  • We believe in life-changing teaching and learning.