IMPORTANT

This is an online application. To be considered, all sections must be completed by the application deadline. We recommended that you gather all of the required materials before completing the online form. You may save an incomplete form and complete it at a later time.

Questions:

Please contact scholarship@dstmsp.org with any questions about the application process.

You will need the following to complete the application:

• Autobiographical essay (typed, single page, between 250 and 500 words with a .pdf, .doc or .docx file extension) 
• Letter of personal reference or Personal Reference Form. Provide the following link to your reference and ask them to provide you with a copy of the completed PDF form OR a separate reference letter that includes all requested information on the form (.pdf, .doc or .docx file extension).https://form.jotform.com/mspacdst/personal-reference-form 
• Letter(s) of community service verification or Community Service Verification Form(s) verifying a minimum of 30 total hours of service. Provide the following link to your reference(s) to complete and ask them to provide you with a copy of the completed PDF form OR a separate reference letter that includes all requested information on the form (.pdf, .doc or .docx file extension) https://form.jotform.com/mspacdst/service-verification-form 
• Copy of official transcript (minimum unweighted GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale). Please ask your school to email your official transcript separately to scholarship@dstmsp.org by the application deadline.
• Résumé (typed) - .pdf, .doc, or .docx file extension. 
• List of up to five colleges applied to and tuition and room and board costs
• Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA Student Aid Report or estimated EFC using the FAFSA estimator tool (optional)

Criteria:

• Minimum cumulative unweighted grade point average of 2.7 on 4.0 scale
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Active volunteer in community service activities (minimum 30 hours). Note: Community service is weighted heavily, and applicants are encouraged to report the total number of community service hours performed
• Acceptance or continued enrollment at a two-year or four-year accredited institution of higher education for the upcoming Fall semester (If awarded scholarship, proof of full-time registration is required to receive funds.)
• Minnesota resident

The award committee considers multiple factors when evaluating applications including community service contributions, autobiographical essay, grade point average, personal reference letter and financial need.

Note: Children of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. are not eligible for this scholarship.

Parent/Guardian #1:

Parent/Guardian #2:

Click SAVE to complete your application later or NEXT to continue.

The award committee considers multiple factors when evaluating applications including community service contributions, autobiographical essay, grade point average, personal reference letter and financial need.

If you would like your financial profile to be considered by the award committee, please complete item E-1 or E-2 below. Items E-1 and E-2 are optional; omission of this information will not necessarily prevent an applicant from receiving a scholarship award.

If you do not wish for your financial profile to be considered by the award committee, please indicate this by marking the checkbox for item E-3.

Please visit https://studentaid.gov/for information about FAFSA and the EFC.

Please visit https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/?src=serp to locate the FAFSA4caster tool. 

List in order of preference the schools to which you have applied. You may enter up to five schools and must enter at least one school. 

Click SAVE to complete your application later or NEXT to continue.

The essay must be typed on a SINGLE page and between 250 and 500 words and uploaded below (.pdf, .doc, or .docx file format).

 

Your personal reference may be from anyone except a relative. Personal references from a family friend, counselor, teacher, coach, etc. are acceptable. Your personal reference cannot be the same person who provides your community service reference.

They must complete our Personal Reference Form https://form.jotform.com/mspacdst/personal-reference-form and provide you with the PDF output file OR write a separate letter (.pdf, .doc, .docx file format).

Please upload the completed Personal Reference PDF Form or separate letter (.pdf, .doc or .docx file extension) below. 

The personal reference must include:

• How this person knows you and the length of time they have known you
• Contact information (e.g. phone number, e-mail) 

The personal reference should also address issues such as your intellectual promise, leadership potential, initiative, maturity, independence, concern for others and any special talents (i.e., any information that will help the scholarship committee distinguish you from other students).

Your community service references must be from persons within the organization(s) for which you have performed service or persons within a coordinating service organization/group/club (AVID Program Coordinator, National Honor Society Advisor, School Outreach/Community Service Coordinator, etc.). Your community service reference cannot be from the same person providing the personal reference. 

They must complete our Community Service Verification Form (https://form.jotform.com/mspacdst/service-verification-form) and provide you with the PDF output file OR write a separate letter (.pdf, .doc or .docx file format). 

Please upload the completed service verification forms or letters (.pdf, .doc or .docx file extension) below.

The community service reference(s) must include: 

• Position within the organization for which service was performed or position within a coordinating organization (examples of coordinating organization: school AVID Program Coordinator, National Honor Society Advisor, or Outreach/Community Service Coordinator)
• Contact information (e.g. phone number, e-mail) 
• Number of service hours and the academic or calendar year(s) in which they were performed 
• Capacity in which you performed your service(s)
• Impact you had on the organization(s)

Note: a minimum of 30 total hours must be verified. service is weighted heavily, and applicants are encouraged to verify all community service hours performed. More than one letter or verification form may be used if needed.

If your community service is performed through a church, the service must directly affect the community at large, and not the church itself.

Examples of service that benefit the community (acceptable):

• Serving the homeless through a church kitchen
  Visiting nursing homes or prison as part of a youth ministry

Examples of service that benefit the church (unacceptable):

• Church choir
• Usher board
• Sunday school teacher

Please ask your school to separately email your official transcript to scholarship@dstmsp.org.

Your résumé should highlight your leadership, community service involvement (including beginning and end dates, total hours served and in what capacity you served), school activities, awards/honors and other personal interests.

Click SAVE to complete your application later or NEXT to continue. 

The deadline for all material is Friday, March 31, 2024. All material must be received on or before this date! Contents must be submitted electronically using the form(s) provided. Postal mail, faxed or hand-delivered items will not be accepted. Only the transcript will be accepted via email*. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

*Please make sure that your school emails your transcript to scholarship@dstmsp.org by the deadline. 

Final Submission Instructions

Click "Preview PDF" below to view your application for completion.

Make sure that you have completed all sections of the application and uploaded all required documents before clicking "Submit." 

Any errors preventing submission will be indicated. 

You will receive a copy of your completed application form in PDF format after you click "Submit."