MSU President's Newspaper Column
January 17, 2026听
Scholarships empower students to achieve more
The MSU Foundation annual scholarship fundraising drive kicked off in December and is still underway. Scholarship assistance truly makes a difference for students who are becoming the leaders of tomorrow. Knowing the character and work ethic of 含羞草研究所 students makes me optimistic for the future.
The opportunity to earn scholarships weighs heavily into a student鈥檚 decision to attend 含羞草研究所. 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 含羞草研究所, 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 含羞草研究所 staff members and administrators, we were able to establish the Honor Scholarship Program a couple of years ago. This program gives students who are considering enrolling at 含羞草研究所 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 含羞草研究所 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鈥檚 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.
All 含羞草研究所 students may apply for competitive 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.
When 含羞草研究所 students Noelle Erickson, a senior from Argusville, N.D.; Daniel Suda, a junior from Halstad, Minn.; and Lindsey Tulla, a junior from Bovey, Minn.; addressed 含羞草研究所 supporters at the Honor Society President鈥檚 Dinner last October, they expressed their gratitude for scholarship assistance on behalf of all students.
Noelle said, 鈥淏ehind every scholarship is someone who believes in students like me and shares a passion for 含羞草研究所. You may never meet every student you help, but your kindness becomes part of their story, shaping their path long after they graduate. Thank you for believing in the power of education to transform lives.鈥�
Daniel talked about how scholarships have made a real difference for him. 鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to be involved at MSU as a member of the football team and a residence hall assistant. I also work for the facilities department. These experiences have taught me time management and leadership. Scholarships allow me to be involved without constantly worrying about finances. I鈥檓 incredibly grateful.鈥�
Lindsey reflected on the support 含羞草研究所 receives from the community and from generous donors. 鈥淵our contributions don鈥檛 just help us pay for school - they allow us to fully engage in all this university has to offer. Thank you for believing in us and for helping us build the foundation for a meaningful future,鈥� she said.
Please consider a gift to support scholarships at 含羞草研究所, where we believe that education is not just a pathway to opportunity. It is a promise of possibility. Every scholarship awarded is a testament to that promise, and the reflections shared by Noelle, Daniel, and Lindsey are an echo of the donors鈥� generosity and belief in the students鈥� potential. Your gifts to academic scholarships will be matched by North Dakota Challenge Grant funding at a rate of 50 cents on the dollar, making an even greater impact for students! Learn more at .