Richard and Louise Varco Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Saint Paul and Minnesota Communication Foundation

Overview
The Richard and Louise Varco Scholarship was created to support students who intend to pursue further study at an accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school located in Minnesota.

Who is eligible
Applicants must meet one of the following:

- Be a high school senior, a high school graduate, or a current postsecondary student at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional level; AND plan to enroll full time for the entire 2026–2027 academic year at an accredited two‑ or four‑year college, university, or vocational-technical school in Minnesota. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) is required.
- OR be a worker who has been displaced under extraordinary circumstances and intends to enroll in a retraining program at an accredited two‑ or four‑year college, university, or vocational-technical school in Minnesota for the full 2026–2027 academic year.

Award information
- The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation determines the total amount available for awards each year from the Richard and Louise Varco Scholarship Fund.
- Individual awards will not exceed $5,000.
- Awards are one-time (not renewable). Eligible students may reapply each year they continue to meet the criteria.

How recipients are chosen
Scholarship America makes recipient selections based on the following factors:
- Academic record
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- Statement of educational and career goals
- Unusual personal or family circumstances
- An online recommendation

In addition, financial need as calculated by Scholarship America must be demonstrated for a student to receive an award. Selection decisions are made solely by Scholarship America; neither officers nor employees of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation are involved in choosing recipients. Not all applicants will receive awards, and applicants must accept Scholarship America’s decision as final.

Application materials and requirements
To complete your application you must upload the following documents electronically:
- A current, complete transcript. Grade reports are not acceptable. The transcript must show:
- Student name
- School name
- Grades
- Credit hours for each course and the term in which the course was taken

Note: If you submit SAT or ACT scores and those scores do not appear on your high school transcript, upload an official copy of the test report(s). Test scores are not required when you submit a college transcript.

- One online recommendation must be submitted on your behalf by February 27, 2026 at 3:00 PM Central Time. Your application will be considered incomplete until all required materials (including the recommendation and transcript) have been submitted electronically.

Notification and payment
- All applicants will be notified of award decisions in April. Notifications are sent by email—do not use a school or employer email address when creating your application account; provide a personal email address you will retain access to.
- Scholarship America administers payments on behalf of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Scholarship funds are disbursed in a single installment in early August.

If you have questions about application status or materials, contact Scholarship America per the application portal instructions.