Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities

Northwest Minnesota Foundation

Northwest Minnesota Foundation Website

Important dates to remember:

·         February 1 – applications are open!

·         April 15 – most applications close!

·         April 18 – FOR SELECTION COMMITTEES ONLY – scholarships will be ready for review.

·         May 1 – FOR SELECTION COMMITTEES ONLY – scholarship decisions should be made by this date.  If you need more time, please let us   know.  Please submit a scholarship recommendation form. 

·        June 22 – A letter from NMF will be sent to awarded students with instructions on how they obtain their scholarship.  REMINDER: follow up information is now collected through our online scholarship application portal.  Students will be sent email reminders in December 2026 on the steps they need to take to claim their award.  The deadline to claim will be Feb. 1, 2027.

ADK Scholarship

ADK Scholarship Application

• A high school senior graduating in the upper one third of his or her graduating class.
• Pursuing an education major with the intent of a college degree.
• A graduate in 2026 from one of the following high schools:
  Detroit Lakes Frazee
  Hawley Lake Park-Audubon
  Pelican Rapids Perham-Dent
  Ulen-Hitterdal Waubun
• Applications can be submitted by mail or e-mail. 

• Be a United States Citizen, U.S. National, or U.S. Permanent Resident
• Have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above on a 4.3 scale
• Be accepted for undergraduate study at a four-year accredited institution of higher education (acceptance not required at the time of application submission)
• Not be related to an active member or former member of The Fund or The Girl Friends®, Inc.

• Remember students are asked to add a Guidance Counselor email address to the system and the system will generate an email to you requesting the school to attach a transcript for the student.  This is a requirement on all of our applications and needs to be completed by March 1 also.
• Review criteria to ensure you are eligible.
• Collect items needed to complete application. Prepare essays in advance.
• Use the correct method to apply for scholarships.
• Deadlines and submittal requirements vary greatly – check them carefully.
• Online applications: typically require a profile setup with an email address
  • Anticipate that all information will be communicated via email
  • Use a valid email address that you use on regular basis
• Once you are ready to apply for an online scholarship, review the tutorial and start the application

Sanford Health

Network Scholarship Application

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants should have an affiliation with a participating Sanford Network facility. (Examples include: employee, relative of an employee, community resident, patient, etc)
• Accepted into a healthcare program at an accredited, post-secondary institution.
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater, calculated on a 4.0 grading scale. The applicant must upload an official transcript of grades from their last completed semester of study.
• The transcript must show current grade point average.

Participating facilities include:

• Iowa: Sheldon & Rock Rapids
• Minnesota: Alexandria, Canby, Detroit Lakes, East Grand Forks, Halstad, Jackson, Luverne, Mahnomen, Parkers Prairie, Pelican Rapids, Perham, Tracy, Thief River Falls, Twin Valley, Ulen, Wheaton, Worthington, Westbrook, Ortonville & Hawley
• North Dakota: Devils Lake, Edgeley, Ellendale, Enderlin, Finley, Forman, Grand Forks, Gwinner, Hillsboro, Jamestown, Lamoure, Lidgerwood, Lisbon, Mayville, Oakes, Valley City & Wahpeton
• South Dakota: Aberdeen, Burke, Inwood, Chamberlain, Clear Lake, Vermillion, Watertown & Webster

All students currently enrolled in the 11th grade and attending a Minnesota public

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

• An application form

• A written essay, using critical thinking discussing this year's topic

• A current high school transcript

• A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor

Note: All items must be submitted in one envelope and mailed to:

Minnesota Association of Townships Scholarship Program
P.O. Box 267
St. Michael, MN  55376

Must be postmarked by June 1. Incomplete applications or applications postmarked after June 1 will not be accepted.

ESSAY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be between 450-500 words

• Typed with double spacing

• Use critical thinking discussing this year's topic

• Do not name yourself, school, town/city, or local officials in the essay

• Be a United States Citizen (as defined by FAFSA)
• Have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above on a 4.3 scale
• Be accepted for undergraduate study at a four-year accredited institution of higher education
• Not be related to an active member or former member of The Fund or The Girl Friends®, Inc.

• Must reside in a household receiving electric service from one of the 61 MRES member utilities. Residence eligibility may be verified by calling the city utility office or by clicking here for a list of MRES member communities. Eligible high schools are designated by MRES.
• Must enroll in a *full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school no later than the fall of 2025.

• The A&F Scholarships are available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post secondary institution.

• To apply for this scholarship you will need to write an essay on the topic below. The essay should be between 500 and 1000 words. Your submissions must be sent to us by email at: scholarships@abbottandfenner.com

For the $6,000

• Must be the child of a full-time Jennie-O team member who works within the Supply Chain Operations Division of Jennie-O (this is defined as any team member who reports up to Jennie-O’s vice president of Supply Chain Operations in the company’s organizational chart).
• Must have a “B” grade point average (3.00) or higher in high school.
• Can major in any field and must plan to attend a U.S.-based four-year college full time in order to obtain a bachelor’s degree (it is acceptable to attend a U.S.-based two-year community/junior college with plans to transfer to a four-year college).
• Recipient selection is based primarily on academics while taking into consideration the written essay.

For the $1,000

• Must be the child of a full- or part-time Jennie-O team member who works within the Supply Chain Operations Division of Jennie-O; or be a team member yourself (this is defined as any team member who reports up to Jennie-O’s vice president of Supply Chain Operations in the company’s organizational chart).
• Up to three of the 50 scholarships available are earmarked for children of Jennie-O contract or independent growers.
• Can attend any U.S.-based higher education institution full time and major in any field.
• Recipient selection is based on an overall evaluation of academics and the written essay.

$6,000 Golden Excellence Scholarship (up to two scholarships available; paid out at $1,500/yr over four years)

$1,000 Continuing Education Scholarship (up to 50 scholarships available; unrenewable one-time payment)

• High school seniors
• Enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school. 
• To be eligible, the student must reside in a household receiving electric service from one of Missouri River’s 61 member utilities. Click here for a list of municipal electric utilities that are MRES members.

• Enroll in a full-time powerline/lineworker program at an eligible technical college.
• To be eligible, the student must reside in a household receiving electric service from one of Missouri River’s 61 member utilities. Click here for a list of municipal electric utilities that are MRES members.

• Enrolled as a full-time high school junior or senior
• Demonstrate critical financial need (NEW INCOME LEVEL < $100,000)
• Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• At least a 2.0 GPA
• Be a United States Citizen

The Association awards 2 National $25,000 scholarships and 9 State $10,000 scholarships to MN students

MN SENIORS: $10,000 to $52,000 scholarships to specific colleges and universities across the United States.

Learner Tutoring Mental Health Scholarship 

• Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident facing mental health challenges may apply for this scholarship.

Learner Calculus Tutoring Scholarship

• Studying in the STEM field. All high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students are eligible to apply.

The Laundry Guru Future Green Leaders Scholarship

• Open to all students pursuing a degree in environmental science, sustainability, business, or a related field and are current U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents.

HeySunday Scholarship for Mom's in College

• Open to all mothers who are currently attending a US college or university and are current U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents.

$2500

Live It Up  Nursing Scholarship

• Any undergraduate, or graduate student who is a US citizen or permanent legal resident pursuing Nursing may apply for this scholarship.

$3000

Live It Up Best Greens Powder Women in Healthcare Scholarship

• Women pursuing a degree in the healthcare field (public health, medicine, healthcare administration, nursing, etc.)

• All high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students are eligible to apply.

$3000

Best Greens Powder Hero's Legacy Scholarship

• Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident and the child of at least one parent who has served in the U.S. military may apply for this scholarship.

$3000

Learner Tutoring Innovators of Color in STEM Scholarship

• Any BIPOC high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident pursuing STEM may apply for this scholarship.

$500

• U.S. Citizens, Naturalized U.S. Citizens, or those in the process of becoming Naturalized U.S. Citizens.
• Persons not less than 17 years old and not yet 23 by September 1 of the year starting college.
• Persons with no criminal record of military or civilian offenses pending or federal convictions.

Full tuition at one of the listed colleges or universities (or room and board up to $11,500)

Scholarship Institute $50K No Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: All high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students are eligible to apply.

$1000 each for 4 students each month

Learner Tutoring Online Learning Innovator Scholarship for Veterans

• Any veteran, active-duty service member, or a dependent who is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
• Uses online platforms, tools, and resources to further their learning.

$1000

• Supports LGBTQIA+ students in Detroit Lakes
  Public Schools pursuing higher education.
• We seek students who demonstrate academic
  achievement, community involvement, leadership potential and a commitment to furthering
  equality and visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community.

$5,000 renewable scholarship (up to four years)

• You are eligible to apply if you are planning a career in the following trades:
  • Carpentry or Woodworking
  • Design or Architectural Drafting
  • Construction Management
  • Electrical Construction – (Line worker school is NOT eligible)
  • Plumbing & HVAC
  • Masonry
  • Landscaping
  • Interior Design
• You are a resident of one of these Minnesota counties: Becker, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail or Wilkin.
• You have a GPA of 2.0 or better – high school or college transcript required.
• You have been accepted by or are enrolled in a post-secondary or technical program at an accredited institution in one of the construction related fields listed above.
• You have not received a previous scholarship award from Lake Region Builders Foundation.  Applicants are encouraged to reapply if they have not previously been selected to receive a LRBA scholarship award.

• Must be an AUSN member or relative of a current AUSN member.
• Must be entering or already participating in an accredited undergraduate program or vocational/technical institution.
• May apply during their senior year of high school through their senior year in college or technical institution.
• Maintain an average of 15 credit hours, with a minimum of 12 credit hours in any semester or quarter. 
• Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above.

• Are one-fourth or more American Indian ancestry OR an enrolled member or citizen of a federally-recognized American Indian tribe or Canadian First Nation
• Are a Minnesota resident
• Apply for other existing state and federal scholarship and grant programs
• Enroll at least ¾ time as an undergraduate OR ½ time as a graduate student in an education program leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree at an accredited postsecondary institution in Minnesota
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Are not in default on a federal or state student loan or, if in default, have regained eligibility for federal or state student aid
• Qualify for either a Pell or State Grant and demonstrate financial need as an undergraduate student OR demonstrate financial need as a graduate student.