Stand Tall Scholarship
February 1, 2024, Katie Huynh
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Twin Cities is pleased to announce that we have been selected as an award recipient for the 2024-2025 Stand Tall Scholarship Fund. The Stand Tall Scholarship is offered to current and former Littles and Bigs planning to attend an accredited postsecondary undergraduate or graduate school and who exemplify integrity, perseverance, and accountability.
Funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other necessary expenses related to the particular program or training (e.g. tools, materials, etc.). An award will be evenly distributed between the two semesters immediately following the application deadline. For example, if a student applies and is granted $2,000, they will receive $1,000 of their scholarship the following fall semester and the remaining $1,000 for the next spring semester.
Eligibility
- Be a current or past Little or Big*
- Have been matched through the Twin Cities Big Brothers Big Sisters Agency
- Be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status
- Have attained a high school diploma or GED (or will have graduated high school prior to the Fall 2024 term)
- Be enrolled or plan to enroll full-time in a postsecondary undergraduate or graduate-level program at a college or university
- Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
- Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please note 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.
*Former Bigs are those who volunteered as mentors for at least 12 months within the last five years from the time of application submission
Award
A total of $15,000 will be awarded to up to four, individual students for one year of education in the upcoming school year (2024-2025). The scholarship committee will select award recipients and determine the amount of each award. All funds awarded will be paid directly to the educational institution on behalf of the student.
Award recipients are required to:
- Turn in all paperwork as requested by BBBS, including a complete online application form
- Connect with the BBBS Twin Cities College Access representative at least once per semester
Materials required for submission:
- Complete the online application (opens on February 1) by Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:59 p.m CST. Make sure you thoroughly read through the application before starting.
- Transcript(s) from high school or college (unofficial)
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) confirmation email. Please connect with the BBBS Twin Cities College Access representative directly if you are unsure of how to obtain this document.
A letter of recommendation is strongly recommended but not required. Littles are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of recommendation from their Big, if possible. Bigs are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of recommendation from their current or former Match Engagement Coordinator, another BBBS employee, or their Little.
Final recipients of the scholarship will be asked to meet together virtually with the scholarship committee for a short, casual interview. Please note: This meeting is only encouraged for the committee to get to know more about the awarded recipients, and attendance will not affect your eligibility.
Questions?
Please contact Sorena Yang, College & Future 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.
