Congratulations!
Earning a scholarship is a great achievement, and we are proud to play a role in recognizing the efforts you put into your schooling and extracurriculars.
Claiming your award
If you are a scholarship recipient and you want to claim your award, please take note of the following.
Your scholarship award will be distributed directly to your college or university at the beginning of your second semester upon your submission of the following through our online portal:
- Proof of successful completion of your first semester with a cumulative grade point of 2.00 “C” average or higher
- Proof of your enrollment for the second semester
The scholarship process
STEP 1
Read the letter carefully
First, congratulations! If you were notified by your high school or a scholarship selection committee that you were selected as the recipient of a scholarship hosted by Northwest Minnesota Foundation, look for a hard-copy award letter to come through the U.S. mail to your home address sometime in June. Review the award letter carefully.
STEP 2
Write a thank-you note
An important piece to accepting a scholarship is writing a thank-you note to the donor who has generously given their money to support the educational endeavors of students like you. We ask that you please write a thank-you note to the donor at your earliest convenience and mail it back to our office. We will then pass the thank you onto the donor and/or scholarship selection committee.
STEP 3
Submit proof
In order to receive your award(s) you must submit the following items to NMF: a transcript showing your grades, and proof of registration for the next semester with your Student Identification Number.
These can all be submitted through our web portal:
- Log in with your username and password.
- Once logged in, you will be on the Applicant Dashboard.
- Below your application, you will see that it reads “Scholarship Master Grades and Registration”.
Click on the blue “Edit” link to the right of the form to access the form. You can save the form as often as you need but remember to submit by the due date. - Submit necessary information as needed, no later than February 1.
STEP 4
Confirm the funds have arrived
Your scholarship award will be distributed directly to your college or university at the beginning of your second semester.
Tips for writing a thank-you note:
Use proper spelling, capitalization, and punctuation and try to cover these 5 points:
- Tell the reader who you are and where you come from.
- Thank the donor for their generosity in providing a scholarship.
- Tell the reader one or two ways this scholarship will benefit you.
- Tell the reader how it made you feel to be selected for a scholarship.
- End with a final thank you and your full name.
Optional: An extra special way of thanking a donor for the scholarship you have received would be to include a photo of you with the thank-you note. We invite you to get creative! Ideas include holding a sign or poster that says “Thank You” or another meaningful quote. A photo could be one from your graduation or your graduation announcement. It could be a photo of you doing something you enjoy. Either way, putting a face to your name can be a very meaningful way to say thank you. Email your photo to scholarships@nwmf.org with your name and the name of the scholarship you were awarded.
Frequently asked questions
What if my educational plans change or my grades drop?
If your educational plans have changed or you have failed to meet the minimum grade point average your first semester, please contact our office (218-759-2057). The scholarship selection committee may allow a grace period during which you can raise your cumulative grade point average and have the scholarship distributed accordingly.
When will I receive the scholarship funds?
Once the semester ends and you’ve provided the necessary documentation (see above), scholarship payments typically take about 10 to 14 days and will be sent directly to your college or university.