Federated Challenge Scholarship
January 2, 2024, Katie Huynh
Do you want to continue your education beyond high school but need some financial assistance in paying for it? Thanks to the generosity of Federated Insurance and the Federated Challenge, current and former Littles are eligible to apply for the Federated Challenge Scholarship. The scholarship provides up to $5,000 per year for students to attend a non-four year education or training program at an accredited Minnesota post-secondary school that focuses on obtaining an apprenticeship, certificate, or associate’s degree. Funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other necessary expenses related to the particular program or training (e.g. tools, materials, cookware, etc.).
Eligibility
- Current or former Little Brother or Little Sister, or have volunteered as a high school Big Brother or Big Sister for at least 18 months prior to the application deadline date
- Matched through one of the Minnesota Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies: BBBS Twin Cities, BBBS of Central Minnesota, or BBBS of Southern Minnesota
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Attained a high school diploma or GED (or will have graduated prior to the fall 2024 term)
- Enrolled or plan to enroll part-time or full-time in the upcoming school year (2024-2025) in a non-four year program at a trade, technical, or community college, or another accredited Minnesota post-secondary school, to obtain an apprenticeship, certificate, or associate’s degree
- Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
- Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This scholarship is not based on financial need, so if you do not qualify for free or reduced lunch, you are still eligible to apply for this scholarship if you meet all other criteria
Award
A scholarship between $1,000 and $5,000 will be awarded for one year of education after high school. Students have the opportunity to renew annually if the applicant has positively represented BBBS as a scholarship recipient and is able to show documented academic progress. The award will be paid directly to the educational institution on behalf of the student.
Requirements
- Turn in all paperwork as requested by BBBS
- Attend the Federated Challenge Gala and/or Golf Tournament in July 2024
- Connect with the College Access representative at your BBBS agency at least once per semester
- Volunteer two times with BBBS during the 2024-2025 scholarship year
- Attend the Federated Scholarship Information Session
Application
- Complete the online application. Make sure you read through the entire application before starting
- Unofficial high school or college transcript
- At least one letter of recommendation (from a teacher, counselor, your Big, an employer, or community member such as a coach, mentor, faith leader, etc.). You are welcome to submit more than one letter.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) confirmation email. Please connect with the College Access representative at your agency if you are unsure of how to obtain this document
Deadline
The application opens on January 1, 2024, and the deadline to submit is Sunday, March 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
Questions?
Please contact Sorena Yang, College & Career Readiness Coordinator, with questions or for assistance filling out the scholarship application and/or your FAFSA form, at syang@bigstwincities.org or 651-789-2433.
