Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Endowed Scholarship
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Endowed Scholarship was established in 2008 through a generous gift from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The SMSC scholarship program is designed to recruit and retain talented American Indian students with demonstrated financial need to the University of Minnesota. The SMSC scholarship program is administered by the University's Office for Equity and Diversity.
The primary goal of the SMSC scholarship program is to support incoming University of Minnesota freshmen and transfer students with demonstrated financial need. A smaller number of scholarships may also be awarded to newly-admitted graduate and professional students in specific disciplines. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years or until graduation (whichever comes first) for undergraduates, contingent upon academic performance. For graduate and professional students, the length of funding is contingent upon academic performance, the school of enrollment, and degree program, and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Download the SMSC applicaton form (PDF).
1. Scholarships will be issued on the basis of demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. All SMSC scholarship funds can only be used for tuition, fees, and/or books related to the students coursework at the University of Minnesota.
2. The amount of each scholarship will vary dependent on individual demonstrated need and other awards received by the scholarship applicant. Scholarships will not exceed $10,000.
3. Continuing undergraduate recipients will receive an additional merit award of $500 per year for maintaining a 3.0 or above cumulative grade point average for the academic year.
To be considered for a SMSC scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:
1. Admission to one of the University's of Minnesota's five campuses (Twin Cities, Crookston, Duluth, Morris, or Rochester) as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student.
2. Enrollment or eligibility for enrollment in a federally-recognized tribe.
3. Graduate and professional students must have an academic focus in one or more of the following areas: medicine, dentistry, or other health-related disciplines; public health; business administration/accounting; public policy or government administration; education; or law.
4. Undergraduate scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.5 grade point average for SMSC scholarships to be renewed after the first year. Graduate and professional scholarship recipients must maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average for renewal.
1. All students must submit a complete scholarship application packet. Download the SMSC application form (PDF).
2. Application packets received by March 1, 2010 will be given preference. No applications will be accepted after May 1, 2010.
3. A complete SMSC application packet includes:
• The SMSC application, completed and signed.
• A letter of recommendation from a former teacher, employer, or community representative/elder.
• An
essay of between 250 and 500 words that includes a statement of the applicant’s educational, career, and life goals.
The FAFSA must be submitted each year for application or renewal of the SMSC scholarship.
4. Scholarship recipients will be selected by the SMSC Selection Committee.
For more information about the SMSC scholarship program, please contact Rickey Hall, assistant vice president for equity and diversity, at hallrl@umn.edu.