The Big E Scholars Program pairs the educational mission of Eastern States Exposition with learners and educators to create a meaningful, experiential day at the Fair that has a lasting impact on students beyond their visit.

This program gives educators the opportunity to present an academic lesson in line with the mission of ESE, the home of The Big E. If your proposal is approved, you and your students receive free admission to the Fair, so long as you can demonstrate the educational impact of your outing.This application process is comparable to a grant application; applicants accepted to the program receive complimentary admission to The Big E for all participating students and educators. Additionally, members of ESE’s Education department will make recommendations for your self-guided tour and work to connect The Big E Scholars with relevant ESE staff to complete your lesson.

To Apply
You will be asked to upload the following information via our application form:

• An introduction letter (maximum of 500 words) to explain your project, you and/or your organization/school. This should summarize how this will enhance learning, how it aligns with the Eastern States Exposition mission and needs this visit fulfills for you/your students that cannot be met otherwise.

• Provide a detailed description of the project (maximum of 500 words), including:
  • Goals and objectives: What you aim to achieve.
  • Activities: What you will do while you're at The Big E to meet your educational goals and objectives.
  • Timeline: A schedule for project implementation.
  • Target population: Who are the participating students? (i.e. elementary students, after school program group with range of ages, college student capstone project, etc.)

• Explain how you will measure the success (maximum 200 words) of the project and any tangible evidence you will be able to provide after your visit to The Big E. (i.e. you are doing a film project and the final film link will be provided; your students are exploring life skills and you will provide testimonials from them on how this helped; you are doing a data analysis and will present your findings, etc.)

• Explain how any financial support could benefit your project. Provide a specific outline of expenses that may go into your project.
  • Financial support for transportation to The Big E may be available through our Board of Trustees Grant Program. Financial support is not a guarantee of this program.

• Include any additional supporting documents, such as letters of support, resumes or relevant data.