Today is August 21st, 2008

General Edward W. Waldon Scholarship Program For Veterans

$200,000 in special scholarships and grants available to all members of the Minnesota National Guard and Reserve Units who have served in the combat zones since 9/11/2001


• The Masonic Grand Lodge of Minnesota and Minnesota Masonic Charities are pleased to announce the availability of two hundred (200) $1,000 scholarship awards and grants.
• These awards may be used to pay tuition at the school of your choice or they can be applied towards the cost of your Montgomery GI Bill expense.
• The awards are not based on your grades or past results as a student.
• The scholarships and grants will be for $1000 for each recipient.
• These awards are being offered to the members of the Minnesota National Guard and various Reserve units serving in the combat zones in honor of your service to our country.

The Masons of Minnesota, representing the members of 160 Masonic Lodges located across the state, support many worthwhile charitable statewide and local community projects, including several scholarship programs for Minnesota high school graduates and postgraduate students. Now we want to provide some support for you as you continue you your education.

We are proud to offer you the General Edward W. Waldon Scholarship, named in honor of Masonic Past Grand Master and retired Major General Edward W. Waldon, who once commanded the Minnesota National Guards' 47th “Viking” Infantry Division.

The mission of all Masons is to engage and inspire men of good character, and to be guided by the enduring and relevant tenets of our fraternity: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. ¬ Masonic core values include Freedom and we champion the liberties and values outlined in the founding documents of the United States of America. Masonic values track almost identically with why we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan…and this is why the Masons of Minnesota want to support our troops.

You are encouraged to download the simple award application form. The application must be completed and mailed with a copy of your DD214 by regular mail by January 14, 2008. If more than 200 applications for the awards are received, a drawing will be held to choose the award recipients. No Masonic affiliation is required to apply for the award; your service in the combat zones since 9/11 is the only prerequisite to apply for this award.

The Masons of Minnesota thank you for your service to our country.

Minnesota Masonic Charities Signature Scholarship Awards

 

The Minnesota Masonic Charities Signature Scholarship Program is proud to name these scholarships after five individuals who are strongly identified with the state of Minnesota through personal achievement or public service, and who were personally committed to the values of Masonry in their private lives.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP?
Scholarship applicants must be:
1. Graduating seniors from an accredited Minnesota high school with a minimum
GPA of 3.00 OR
2. currently enrolled in college as first or second year students with a minimum GPA of 3.00, having graduated from an accredited Minnesota high school.

NOTE: Renewal of a graduate school scholarship may include a lesser requirement for GPA given the higher difficulty factor. These scholarships are made available on an equal opportunity basis, with no discrimination for age, gender, religion or national origin. There are no restrictions on the geographic location of the recipient school choice, including outside of the United States.

WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP?
There are five Signature Scholarships and each scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship, which may be renewed for four years, for up to $20,000.

HOW WILL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS BE SELECTED?
The Minnesota Masonic Charities Scholarship Committee will review all applications and determine the recipients as well as which of the five Signature Scholarships they will be granted. Applicants may be invited to come in for a personal interview. The Committee should make its decisions in late March or early April. All applicants for these scholarships will be notified of the Committee’s decisions.

WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Contact the Signature Scholarship Administrator at:

Minnesota Masonic Charities,
Signature Scholarships
11501 Masonic Home Drive
Bloomington, MN 55437

or you may call 952-948-6004

Please review the instructions for submission on the last page of the scholarship application.

WHO IS MINNESOTA MASONIC CHARITIES?
Minnesota Masonic Charities (MMC) is the nonprofit organization of Minnesota Masonry that promotes even greater levels of Masonic charity through a united
focus. The Minnesota Masons contribute to charitable causes of all types; aiding other Masons, their families and all people within society. Our size, resources and capabilities rank us as one of the largest grant-making organizations in the state. MinnesotaMasonic Charities offers a capable, central foundation for the Minnesota Masons’ many charitable endeavors.

 

Grand Lodge Administered Matching Funds Scholarship Program

 

Minnesota Masonic Charities continues the program of the former Minnesota Masonic Foundation, offering the Matching Funds Scholarship program. The local lodge is asked to select the students and to determine the amount of the scholarships.

Minnesota Masonic Charities matches the local lodge scholarships, up to the maximum matching award per lodge of $1,500 for 2008. We participate with over 115 Minnesota Maosnic Lodges and Eastern Star Chapters in the awarding of over of the matching funds scholarships. These awards go to some approximately 450 students each year, resulting in over $300,000 in scholarship awards. During the past several years, we have continuously expanded the matching funds scholarship program.

To apply for the program, an application must be submitted by the local Minnesota Masonic lodge or Eastern Star Chapter, to the the Grand Lodge office. The Grand Lodge office administers this program for Minnesota Masonic Charities. To find out if a lodge near you is participating in the program, contact the lodge secretary. Lodge phone numbers and addresses may be determined by checking the complete listing of all Minnesota Lodges on our website. In some cases, the lodge may not have a local phone number. If there is no phone number listed on the individual lodge's web page, contact the lodge secretary. You might also contact the Grand Lodge of Minnesota for a contact name and number.