Scholarships

LeadMN offers several scholarships to college students throughout Minnesota. We award scholarships for both the fall and spring semesters. Please note that some scholarships are only awarded in the spring and some are only awarded in the fall. Scholarship funds are dispersed to colleges or universities after recipients are announced. Recipients are chosen by our scholarship board and celebrated annually at our Scholarship Celebration in January. 

Applying for LeadMN Scholarships

Fall Scholarships are open from January 1st to April 1st. Spring Scholarships are open from July 1st to November 1st.  Criteria for each scholarship varies. Please look at each scholarship below to find application details and information. See the full list at the bottom of the page. After reviewing the different scholarship below you can apply here.

Click the buttons below to find the information you’re looking for on this page. 

Scholarships available for Fall Semester

Applications open on January 1st. If you have questions or need assistance applying for scholarships, contact

Scholarship applications to be awarded for the fall semester are accepted on a rolling basis from January 1st through April 1st, with decisions being announced early-June. The following scholarships are awarded for the fall – Scroll through the slider below.

Fall Scholarships

LeadMN Free College Scholarships

Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak Scholarship

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LeadMN Leadership Scholarships

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Dr. Steve and Darla Frantz Leadership and Endowed Scholarship

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Linda Olson Memorial Scholarship

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Morrie Anderson Endowed Scholarship

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John Kenneth Niemi Memorial Tool Fund

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John and Kathryn O’Brien Scholarship

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Christine Rice Annual Scholarship

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Mark M. Welter “The 100% American” Scholarship

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3M Skilled Trades Scholarship for Underresourced Groups

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Pregnant and Parenting Scholarship (fall 2026 only)

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Scholarships available for the Spring Semester

Applications open July 1st. If you have questions or need assistance applying for scholarships, contact .

Scholarship applications to be awarded for the spring semester are accepted on a rolling basis from July 1st through November 1st, with decisions being announced mid-December. The following scholarships are awarded for the spring – Scroll through the slider below.

Spring Scholarships

John and Kathryn O’Brien Scholarship

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John Kenneth Niemi Memorial Tool Fund

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LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

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Linda Olson Memorial Scholarship

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The Mark M. Welter “100% American” Scholarship

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Morrie Anderson Endowed Scholarship

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Dr. Maryan and James McCormick Leadership Endowed Scholarship

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Irja Sundgren Pratt Memorial Scholarship

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3M Skilled Trades Scholarship for Underresourced Groups

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Looking for more scholarship opportunities? Check out our Scholarship Database, a centralized scholarship search site for Minnesota students.  

Mark M. Welter World Citizen Award

The Mark M. Welter World Citizen Award grants twenty $500 awards to 2-year Minnesota State students who exemplify an understanding of the interconnected nature of the world, its nations, and all people. 

Eligibility

  • Students must be nominated by an advisor or college staff 
  • Open to 2-year students at a Minnesota State Community or Technical College
  • No more than one (1) nomination may be received from a college or university
  • Have graduated from high school prior to entering a Minnesota State college
  • PSEO students are ineligible for this award
  • A student cannot receive this award more than once
  • Students must be in good academic standing and demonstrate financial need
  • The selection criteria will be shared simultaneously with Minnesota State faculty and staff and will be maintained in LeadMN’s file. Awards will be given on the first-come basis until the maximum of 20 awards is reached

2025 World Citizen Award Recipients

Congratulations to the 2025 World Citizen Award Recipients! 

  • Lakee Abner, Minneapolis College
  • Luana Stumm, Ridgewater College – Willmar
  • Morgan Spieker, Central Lakes College – Staples
  • JJ Hadley, Anoka Ramsey Community College – Cambridge
  • Maria Fernanda Gomez Quijano, Lake Superior College
  • Ally Horejsi, South Central College – Faribault
  • William Yates, North Hennepin Community College
  • Kacie McTaggart, Minnesota State College Southeast
  • Amos Sieh, Hennepin Technical College
  • Mariah Christ, Riverland Community College
  • Alvin Ntare, Inver Hills Community College
  • Sam Wright, Dakota County Technical College 

LeadMN Scholarship Recipients

LeadMN’s Scholarship Recipients are Minnesota State students who show exemplary leadership, academic achievement, and dedication to their communities. 

Spring 2026 Recipients will be announced publicly in January 2026

Spring 2026

Recipient coming soon

Spring 2026

Recipient coming soon

Spring 2026

Recipient coming soon

Mary Tiya Nelson

Lake Superior College, Bemidji State University

Dr. Steven and Darla Frantz Leadership Scholarship

Reanna Smith

Minnesota North College, Itasca

Irja Sundgren Pratt Scholarship Recipient

Crown Bisan

North Hennepin Community College

John and Kathryn O’Brien Endowed Scholarship

Alexis Six

Lake Superior College

Maryan G. and James H. McCormick Endowed Leadership Scholarship

Augustine Benson

North Hennepin Community College

Morrie Anderson Endowed Scholarship

Leatha Hubbard

Metropolitan State University

Linda Olson Memorial Scholarship

Ali Alrubayee

Rochester Community and Technical College

John Kenneth Niemi Memorial Tool Fund Scholarship

Blake Melsa

Alexandria Technical and Community College

3M Skilled Trades Scholarship

Jude Ehigie

St. Cloud Technical & Community College

3M Skilled Trades Scholarship

Said M. Yusuf

Minneapolis College

3M Skilled Trades Scholarship

Eric Bambach

Century College

3M Skilled Trades Scholarship

Lizbeth Gutierrez Lopez

Metropolitan State University

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

Maiyerthao Phialuang

Century College

Spring: LeadMN Leadership Scholarship
Fall: Christine Rice Annual Scholarship

Nathnael Minuta

Minnesota State University, Mankato

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

Antonette Manzambi

Normandale Community College

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Jennifer Shannon

Dakota County Technical College

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Photayoke King

Metropolitan State University

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Robin Braun

Minnesota West Community & Technical College, Worthington

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Houreratou Bande

North Hennepin Community College

Mark M. Welter “100% American” Scholarship

Umi Khaadi

Minnesota State Community & Technical College, Moorhead

John and Kathryn O’Brien Endowed Scholarship

Zane Crabtree

Lake Superior College

John Kenneth Niemi Memorial Tool Fund Scholarship

Katelynn Stout

Northland Community & Technical College, Thief River Falls

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak

Jamila Dauda

Minneapolis College

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak

Della Koep

Central Lakes College, Brainerd

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak

Hamdi Abass

Saint Paul College

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak

Adam Overby

Central Lakes College, Brainerd

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak 

Sophia Behnke

 

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak 

Nuradin Abdulahi

Normandale Community College

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak 

Katherine Ruhland

Alexandria Technical and Community College

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak 

Alaura Dahl

Central Lakes College, Brainerd

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak

Jadelynn Wolden

St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud Technical & Community College

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak

Ibrahim Alowonle

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak

Attoria McDonald

University of Minnesota-Rochester

LeadMN Free College Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Henry P. Dembiczak

Casey Brown

Minnesota West Community & Technical College, Canby

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Ahmed Shaib

Saint Paul College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Sean Vang

Concordia University

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Stephanie Lewis

Minnesota State College Southeast, Winona

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Shea Wood

St. Cloud Technical & Community College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Babra Mumia

Normandale Community College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Rylee Nelson

Rochester Community and Technical College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Natalie Goetsch

Rochester Community and Technical College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Daphne Taylor

Dakota County Technical College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Lizabeth Nyoike

North Hennepin Community College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Maria Ehnes

Lake Superior College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Arbor Taylor

Minnesota State University, Mankato

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Shukri Ahmed

Saint Paul College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship: Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak

Daria Poliakova

Normandale Community College

Christine Rice Annual Scholarship

Jossette Priem

Minnesota State College Southeast, Winona

Christine Rice Annual Scholarship

Ivy Bett

Lake Superior College

Christine Rice Annual Scholarship

Ashley Gabbert

Minnesota State Community & Technical College, Moorhead

Christine Rice Annual Scholarship

Laura Scott

Minnesota State College Southeast, Winona

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

Kennedy Antczak

Lake Superior College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

Hannah Fowler

Bemidji State University

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

Nick Gill

Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul College

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

Leah Kunde

Minnesota State Community & Technical College, Fergus Falls

LeadMN Leadership Scholarship

Nicholas Lund

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Julie Oostra

Minneapolis College

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Jin Yoo

Minneapolis College

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Vitaliy Polozun

Inver Hills Community College

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Ayden Froeschle

Dakota County Technical College

Mark M. Welter 100% American Scholarship

Candace Okeson

Century College

Morrie Anderson Endowed Scholarship

LeadMN Scholarship Board

The LeadMN Scholarship Board is a volunteer board made up of donors, LeadMN alumni, career professionals, and student leaders. The scholarship board meets twice a year to review scholarships and determine winners based on a set of criteria. 

Committee Chair
Rose Sargent, LeadMN Treasurer

LeadMN Scholarship Coordination
Rachel Boeke, LeadMN Executive Director
Carin Bratlie Wethern, LeadMN Development Director

Seat 1: MN State System Office Representative
Shawn Anderson

Seat 2: MN State College Faculty (MSCF)
Mark Grant

Seat 3: Community Professional
Luis Fernando Rodriguez Pineda

Seat 4: LeadMN Alumni Member
Heather Darby

Seat 5: Frantz Family Foundation Representative
Steve Frantz

Seat 6: LeadMN Student Senate Advisor
Erich Heppner

Seat 7: Niemi Family Foundation Representative
Kevin Niemi

Seat 8: Past LeadMN Scholarship Recipient
Lizbeth Gutierrez Lopez

Seat 9: Students United Vice President
Javi Morrison-Galimore

Seat 10: Student appointed by LeadMN President
Abdikarim Hagi