MSU President's Newspaper Column
November 16, 2024
Scholarships make a difference
The MSU Foundation has just kicked off the annual scholarship fundraising drive. Scholarship assistance truly makes a difference for students who are becoming the leaders of tomorrow. Knowing the character and work ethic of Mayville State students makes me optimistic for the future.
The opportunity to earn scholarships weighs heavily into a student’s decision to attend Mayville State. While our costs are very affordable, a scholarship makes our university even more appealing and may mean the difference in whether a student chooses to attend Mayville State, or whether to attend college at all. Gifts made during the annual scholarship drive will help to relieve the financial stress that can go with earning a college degree and may be the very thing that makes it possible for a deserving person to earn a college degree.
Through the collaborative work of several Mayville State staff members and administrators, we were able to establish the Honor Scholarship Program last year. This program gives students who are considering enrolling at Mayville State the opportunity to know up-front what they would qualify for in the way of scholarship assistance.
All new first-year students are eligible to receive scholarships based on high school grade point averages. To be eligible, a student must enroll with Mayville State as their first post-secondary institution. First-year students who have taken dual credit, PSEO, or concurrent enrollment credits are eligible for the First-Year Honor Scholarship. Students transferring from another institution of higher education and who have earned 24+ college-level credit hours and are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree are also eligible to receive Honor Scholarships. College GPA is used to determine the award level for transfer students, and the students must maintain at least a 2.00 grade point average in order to continue to receive funding in the second semester.
Recipients of the First-Year and Transfer Honor Scholarships may also apply for competitive named scholarships that are annual named or endowed scholarships provided through the MSU Foundation. Generous alumni and friends have established these scholarships through the Foundation over the years, and they are critical to student success, as well as overall success of the university.
Drew Harris, a freshman from Lake Park, Minn., is a current recipient of the Edson and Margaret Larson New Student Scholarship, offered as part of the Honor Scholarship Program. In high school, Drew was an exemplary student. He was a member of Student Council, National Honor Society, yearbook staff, and Student Court, all of which gave him opportunities to positively impact the world through volunteerism. He also participated in football, archery, basketball, golf, trap shooting, and fishing league.
A member of the Comets football team, Drew is a driven and determined individual who strives to set challenging goals that will make him better as an athlete and in academics. As a college student, he works every day to become the best version of himself, as a person, a friend, and a teammate.
Reflecting on his decision to become a Comet, he said, “I feel at home in the smaller community of Mayville. In just three months, Mayville State has provided me with a year’s worth of unforgettable experiences. A few highlights for me are the football team beating Valley City in the Homecoming/Farmers Bowl game, winning the lip sync battle on campus, and being invited to attend the Honor Society President’s Dinner.
“The family culture that has been set in stone by the upperclassmen has everything to do with how we operate as students and as players. I’m grateful that I have met so many good people and friends, along with teammates. They have helped me on my way to becoming successful at Mayville State University.”
Please consider a gift to support scholarships at Mayville State University and help students like Drew Harris and countless others to realize their hopes and dreams and be successful Mayville State students. Learn more at www.mayvillestate.edu/scholarshipdrive.
We at Mayville State could not be more grateful for our generous alumni and friends who value what the university means to them and pay it forward so others may benefit. The support of these thoughtful people is key to making great things happen at the university and in the lives of individuals.