FIVE total scholarships of $2000 each to be awarded! Applications accepted through May 1, 2021.
The Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) is proud to again offer a township scholarship program for high school Juniors in the state of Minnesota. Up to FIVE $2,000 scholarships will be awarded. All applications for the awards given in 2020 must be submitted by May 1st, 2021.
The Minnesota Association of Townships is a nonprofit corporation representing Minnesota townships while promoting an understanding of the heritage, future and being a voice for its roughly 9,000 officers. It regularly conducts research and educational programs designed to foster efficient and economical town governmental services and acts as a liaison between township officers and other local government officials to encourage sustained cooperation.
The Minnesota Association of Townships Scholarship Program is designed to heighten awareness among young people about Minnesota’s Grassroots Township government. The program encourages every high school in the state of Minnesota to offer this opportunity for Juniors to participate in this scholarship program.
APPLICATION
The Minnesota Association of Townships is awarding $2,000 scholarships to up to five juniors currently attending a Minnesota public, private, or parochial high school or a home study program that plan to further their education at a college, university, or vocational school.
Applicants must complete an application form and submit it along with a written essay using critical thinking discussing this year’s topic on land use.
The questions are:
“Townships have a role in land use decisions including in part, agriculture, industry, housing, and landfills. As solar panels and wind turbine blades age, the industry faces challenges for end of life destination other than landfills. Increased promotion for solar panels and wind turbines has increased the need for ‘decommissioning’ policy requirements. Questions: What are the environmental impacts that affect townships? What are your thoughts as to the sustainable solutions being considered to address this issue?”
Essays must be between 450 and 500 words, and must be typed with double spacing. Applicants should not name themselves, their school, their town or city, or their local officials in the essay. Each essay will be judged by an independent panel based upon originality, knowledge of subject matter in relationship to the title, and supporting statements, as well as correct spelling and punctuation. The judging will be completed by September 1, 2021.
Along with the completed application and written essay, students must submit a current high school transcript and a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor. All items must be submitted in one envelope and mailed to: Minnesota Association of Townships Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 267, St. Michael, MN 55376, postmarked by May 1, 2021. Incomplete applications or applications postmarked after May 1, 2021 will not be accepted.
Winners will be notified in writing by September 1, 2021 and will be invited to attend the Minnesota Association of Townships Educational Conference & Annual Meeting to be held on September 9-11, 2021 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St Cloud, Minnesota. Scholarship awards will be paid to the appropriate financial aid office upon receipt of verification of enrollment at a college, university, or technical school.
ELIGIBILITY
All students currently enrolled in the 11th grade and attending a Minnesota public, private, or parochial high school or a home study program and who plan to further their education at a college, university, or vocational school are eligible for this program. Student cannot be the child, stepchild, grandchild or step-grandchild, brother, stepbrother, sister or stepsister of a MAT director or staff member.
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must complete an application form and submit it along with a written essay using critical thinking discussing this year’s topic on land use. The questions are:
“Townships have a role in land use decisions including in part, agriculture, industry, housing, and landfills. As solar panels and wind turbine blades age, the industry faces challenges for end of life destination other than landfills. Increased promotion for solar panels and wind turbines has increased the need for ‘decommissioning’ policy requirements. Questions: What are the environmental impacts that affect townships? What are your thoughts as to the sustainable solutions being considered to address this issue?”
Essays must be between 450 and 500 words, and must be typed with double spacing. Applicants should not name themselves, their school, their town or city, or their local officials in the essay.
Along with the completed application and written essay, students must submit a current high school transcript and a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor. All items must be submitted in one envelope and mailed to:
Minnesota Association of Townships Scholarship Program
P.O. Box 267
St. Michael, MN 55376
Must be postmarked by May 1, 2021. Incomplete applications or applications postmarked after May 1, 2021 will not be accepted.
SELECTION PROCESS
Each essay will be judged by an independent panel based upon originality, knowledge of subject matter in relationship to the title, and supporting statements, as well as correct spelling and punctuation. The judging will be completed by September 1, 2021 at which time five $2,000 scholarships will be awarded. Winners will be notified in writing by September 1, 2021 and will be invited to attend the Minnesota Association of Townships annual meeting to be held on September 9-11, 2021 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St Cloud, Minnesota. Scholarship awards will be paid to the appropriate financial aid office upon receipt of verification of enrollment at a college, university, or technical school.
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
2020 Scholarship Winners
The second Tuesday in March is Township Day. Every year each township holds their Annual Meeting. This meeting is often described as the ‘people’s meeting.’ There are rights and authorities given to the electors at that meeting, but those rights and authorities are limited: So, if you were an elector, how would you proceed with getting an action to happen and which one or more of the rights and authorities would you use and why?
Theodore Carlson
Janesville Township
Waseca County
Theodore Carlson’s Scholarship Essay
Tianna Espe
Jadis Township
Roseau County
Tianna Espe’s Scholarship Essay
Stacy Johnson
Torning Township
Swift County
Stacy Johnson’s Scholarship Esssay
Torii Nienow
Scandia Valley Township
Morrison County
Torii Nienow’s Scholarship Essay
Claire Sweatt
Two Harbors
Lake County
Claire Sweatt’s Scholarship Essay
2019 Scholarship Winners
The 2020 Census is fast approaching. Census data is used for a variety of issues, but it must be used to determine the size of congressional and state legislative districts to ensure “one person, one vote.” Over time, there has been a population shift from rural to urban centers. This shift has implications for transportation funding, land use planning, and education resources in townships. What policies can be adopted that will encourage economic development in rural communities ensuring robust representation at all levels of government?
Josiah Anderson
River Township
Red Lake County County
Josiah Anderson 2019 Winning Essay
Kailey DeWolfe
Rockford
Wright County
Kailey DeWolfe 2019 Winning Essay
Abby Larsen
Bogus Brook Township
Mille Lacs County
Abby Larsen 2019 Winning Essay
Charles Tesch
Henderson
Sibley County
Charles Tesch 2019 Winning Essay
Owen Tonn
Apple Valley
Dakota County
Owen Tonn 2019 Winning Essay
Catherine Trihey
Mantorville
Dodge County
Catherine Trihey 2019 Winning Essay
2018 Scholarship Winners
New energy developments are everywhere. Wind and solar farms dot the landscape. Transmission lines and pipelines traverse the countryside. Township officials are on the front line needing to respond to residents’ concerns of placement of energy projects and possible adverse health and safety issues. How can townships balance the required needs of residents for safe, reliable energy sources while responding to the health, safety, economic, and environmental concerns of their community?
Kaitlyn Alaspa
Chisolm
St Louis County
Kaitlyn Alaspa 2018 Winning Essay
Thomas Aman
Crow Wing Lake Township
Hubbard County
Thomas Aman 2018 Winning Essay
Gus Boedigheimer
Harris Township
Itasca County
Gus Boedigheimer 2018 Winning Essay
Anne Courtemanche
Aitkin Township
Aitkin County
Anne Courtemanche 2018 Winning Essay
Megan Nelson
Palmer Township
Sherburne County
Megan Nelson 2018 Winning Essay
Sofia Stumpf
Heron Lake Township
Jackson County
Sofia Stumpf 2018 Winning Essay
2017 Scholarship Winners
Clean Water is a resource vital to all aspects of life in Minnesota from drinking water, to farming, industry and recreation. Human activities can threaten the purity of water. Divisions arise as to what activities impede the goal of clean water. What policies and practices can rural governments pursue that promotes the goal of clean water, which bring together, and does not divide, communities?
Connor Barton
White Bear Township
Ramsey County
Connor Barton 2017 Winning Essay
Isaac Hedstrom
Heron Lake Township
Jackson County
Isaac Hedstrom 2017 Winning Essay
Andrea Kloehn
Minneapolis
Hennepin County
Andrea Kloehn 2017 Winning Essay
Jacey Schlosser
St Olaf Township
Otter Tail County
Jacey Schlosser 2017 Winning Essay
Kylie Wersal
Morgan Township
Redwood County
Kylie Wersal 2017 Winning Essay
Meghan Wilson
Lino Lakes
Anoka County
Meghan Wilson 2017 Winning Essay
There were SIX Scholarship Winners in 2016 who wrote essays in response to this question:
Describe ways in which broadband Internet access improves the lives of rural residents. What challenges exist in providing broadband Internet in rural areas? And what policies should governments at all levels, (federal, state, and local) adopt to ensure that regardless of geographic location all Americans have equal access to broadband Internet?
Logan Cluff
Aitkin Township
Aitkin County
Logan Cluff 2016 Winning Essay
Althea Gutzmann
Saint Paul
Ramsey County
Althea Gutzmann 2016 Winning Essay
Adam Kroll
Bellevue Township
Morrison County
Adam Kroll 2016 Winning Essay
Carlie Mell
Nessel Township
Chisago County
Carlie Mell 2016 Winning Essay
Clayton Patzer
Garfield Township
Lac Qui Parle County
Clayton Patzer 2016 Winning Essay
Emily Schimnich
Mayhew Lake Township
Benton County
Emily Schimnich 2016 Winning Essay
There were SIX Scholarship Winners in 2015 who wrote an essay in response to this question:
What are the different ways fire protection is provided by townships? How is the cost of fire protection funded by a township and at what meeting is the extent of that cost approved? What challenges are faced by rural fire departments in providing fire protection?
Lauren Allis
Walnut Lake Township
Faribault County
Lauren Allis 2015 Winning Essay
Austin Barsness
Urness Township
Douglas County
Austin Barsness 2015 Winning Essay
Riley Donkers
Richland Township
Rice County
Riley Donkers 2015 Winning Essay
Molly Maudal
Carlos Township
Douglas County
Molly Maudal 2015 Winning Essay
Alex Sellner
Ridgely Township
Nicollet County
Alex Sellner 2015 Winning Essay
Jessica Stone
Cloquet
Carlton County
Jessica Stone 2015 Winning Essay
There were FOUR Scholarship Winners in 2014 who wrote an essay in response to this question:
Invasive plants and animals threaten Minnesota’s recreational and agricultural economies. Townships can play a role in protecting rural Minnesota from these threats by enacting local ordinances for the public’s health, safety and welfare. What type of local ordinances could be helpful in combating invasive species and what role should township residents play in enacting and funding local ordinances?
Elise Courtemanche
Aitkin Township
Aitkin County
Elise Courtemanche 2014 Winning Essay
Hannah Harris
Haverhill Township
Olmsted County
Hannah Harris 2014 Winning Essay
Logan Lien
Greenfield Township
Wabasha County
Logan Lien 2014 Winning Essay
Kristy Maloney
Oakport Township
Clay County
Kristy Maloney 2014 Winning Essay