The University of Minnesota Morris awarded over $250,000 in annual scholarships to 40 incoming first-year students as part of the annual Community of Scholars event, held Saturday, Jan. 27.
The students were awarded either the Prairie Scholars Award or the Morris Scholars Award—UMN Morris’s most prestigious competitive scholarships.
The Prairie Scholars Award is based on exemplary academic and leadership record. The award is a full-tuition scholarship and is renewable for four years with a total value of more than $32,000.
The Morris Scholars Award is awarded based on an outstanding academic and leadership record. Recipients of the Morris Scholars Award will receive a $6,000-per-year scholarship, renewable for four years, for a total value of $24,000. In addition, the Morris Scholars Award carries a one-time $2,500 scholarly stipend that may be used during the second, third, or fourth year at UMN Morris to engage in an eligible scholarly experience including study abroad, participating in research or artistic projects, or for travel to academic conferences.
An additional nine students were named Distinguished Scholars and will receive a $1,500 scholarly stipend in addition to other financial aid. The stipend will support the student’s participation in academic opportunities not typically eligible for financial aid.
The scholarship recipients had already been offered admission to the University of Minnesota Morris and were eligible for the scholarships based on their high academic achievement in high school. They were selected following an interview conducted by at least two UMN Morris faculty, staff, and alumni.
“This year’s recipients are quite impressive, and we’re eager to welcome many of them to the UMN Morris community this fall,” said Melissa Bert, vice chancellor for enrollment management and institutional effectiveness. “Applicants from throughout Minnesota, other parts of the United States, and from other countries participated this year. Interviewers were impressed by the breadth of interests and experiences shared by the scholarship recipients – especially since they started high school during challenging times.”
As part of the Community of Scholars event, the student candidates had opportunities to connect with other scholarship finalists, to interact with current students, to engage with faculty and staff, and to experience the University of Minnesota Morris campus in-depth. Families of the students also were given a tour of the Morris community.
The University of Minnesota Morris has been named one of the 50 best liberal arts institutions in the U.S. by Money magazine. University Business magazine further cited UMN Morris as a standout for affordability, ranking it at the top for lowest average full cost after grants. You can still apply for admissions and financial aid for the 2024-25 academic year. Visit morris.umn.edu/apply.