Community-supported education

A short list of scholarships offered in the Norwegian-American community

Concordia Language Villages Scholarships
The purpose of the Tripp Trapp Fund is to provide scholarship assistance to Skogfjorden villagers seeking to move up in the program. The deciding committee aims to provide financial assistance to villagers wishing to move from Pre-K Programs and/or Adventure Day Camp to one of the overnight programs, a one-week session to a two- or four-week session, a two-week session to one of the four-week programs, and Folkehøg­skole to Videregående.

The Tove Irene Dahl Endowed Scholarship supports villagers and their families who have made the commitment to return to Skogfjorden for five or more years. Only villagers who have completed five or more years qualify for this scholarship.

The purpose of the Velkommen Stipend is to provide scholarship assistance to first-time Skog­fjorden villagers seeking to explore Norwegian language and culture. The deciding committee aims to provide financial assistance to villagers wishing to attend their first overnight (residential) session for a one-week, two-week, or four-week session.

Applications and instructions are available at www.concordialanguagevillages.org/youth-dates-and-rates/costs-and-scholarships/additional-scholarship-opportunities.

Deadline: February 28, 2016

Norwegian Society of Texas
NST offers both academic and heritage/cultural scholarships yearly to members and youth of members. Find application requirements and more information at www.norwegiansocietyoftexas.org/scholarship/scholarship-application.

Deadline: February 28
 
Lakselaget
The Lakselaget Scholarship and Opportunity Fund was established to celebrate, encourage, and advance the organization’s motto, women who swim against the current. Its goal is to promote the international connections between Norway and Minnesota, and learn, teach, and share knowledge that will benefit women in their complex roles in today’s society.

Applicants for the Lakselaget Foundation Scholarship Fund should have an interest in contemporary Norway and all things Norwegian and a desire to develop their own interests in another field, such as the sciences, technology, business, politics, language, and culture, and who seek to enhance and disseminate their knowledge.

Applicants for the Lakselaget Foundation Opportunity or Work Study Fund should be in a work situation where a short-term position in a similar job in Norway would be beneficial to their career. This opportunity could be used to supplement funding for an international exchange or internship within the same field, or for a short-term work opportunity that provides a chance to learn about another country.

Visit www.lakselaget.org for more info.

Deadline: March 1, 2016

The Norwegian Children’s Home Association in Brooklyn, N.Y.
This organization offers grants to students ages 17-23 with at least 25% Norwegian heritage who are enrolled in or accepted to an American undergraduate school of higher learning. Application and instructions available at www.norwegianchildrenshome.org.

Deadline: March 1, 2016

The Norwegian National League of Chicago in Chicago, Ill.
The Norwegian National League of Chicago is offering a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to a college-bound high school senior and additional cash prizes to deserving students in first through 11th grades who are of Norwegian heritage residing in the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Kendall, McHenry, or Will. To qualify, older students must submit an original essay on a Norwegian topic, and the students in first through fourth grades must submit an original drawing depicting a Norwegian topic.

Applications and instructions are available on their website at www.nnleague.org.

Deadline: March 1, 2016

Sons of Norway Foundation
The Sons of Norway Foundation awards approximately 25 scholarships to promising students each year. Here are brief descriptions of their categories of scholarships and grants:

• Scholarship to Oslo International Summer School: For students to experience a six-week study abroad program at the University of Oslo.
• King Olav V Norwegian-American Heritage Fund: For American students 18 and older who plan to explore an interest in Norwegian heritage or modern Norway at an institution of higher learning, and for Norwegian students 18 or older to study American culture at an institution of higher learning.
• Helen Tronvold Norwegian Folk High School Scholarship: For high school graduates ages 18-23 to study for an entire school year at one of Norway’s 70 folk high schools.
• Astrid G. Cates/Myrtle Beinhauer Fund: For any students enrolling in post-secondary training or education including trade school, vocational school, or college.
• Nancy Lorraine Jensen Memorial Scholarship: For female American citizens ages 17-35, studying specific areas of science and engineering as a full-time undergraduate and meeting test score requirements.
• Lund Fund Scholarship: For American students studying abroad through accredited, post high school, educational institutions.
• Warne-Eng Scholarship: For American or Canadian students with one year of college-level work and acceptance to an accredited, post high school setting in Norway.
• Helping Hands to Children Grants: To support Adopt a School, Children’s Folk Dancing Groups, Junior Lodges, and Heritage Camps.

Please visit www.sonsofnorway.com/foundation/grants_and_scholarships to view the guidelines, deadline dates and applications for all of the grants and scholarships.

Deadlines: Vary. Most are March 1.

Den Norske Torske Klubben
Den Norske Torske Klubben provides scholarship and grant opportunities for young people to attend language and cultural camps, seminars, and other educational opportunities celebrating Scandinavian heritage. Applicants are not required to be a Den Norske Torske Klubben member to apply, however preference is given to those with a connection to the club. Applicants must submit a 200-word essay indicating why he or she is interested in Norwegian language and culture.

Deadline: March 5, 2016

Leif Erikson Lodge No. 1, Sons of Norway, Education Foundation
Leif Erikson Lodge in Seattle, Wash. announces the following 2016 scholarships:

• Camp Normanna or Camp Nidaros Endowed LEL Scholarship Award with the Youth Camp Program for District 2, Sons of Norway, provides the recipient with a scholarship for 25% of the fee for the camps. Camp Normanna is near Everett, Washington, and Camp Nidaros is near Seaside, Oregon.
• Camp Trollhaugen Endowed LEL Scholarship Award with the Youth Camp Program for District 2, Sons of Norway, provides the recipient with a scholarship for 25% of the fee for the camp.
• Douglas Warne Vocational Scholarship will award a scholarship to an eligible person 18-25 attending or planning on attending an accredited technical, trade, or vocational program in Washington State.
• Queen and Princess Scholarship Program awards two young women who represent the lodge as its Queen and Princess an award of $1000 or $400 respectively. The winners will represent Leif Erikson Lodge 2-001, Sons of Norway, in at least five events of their choosing during the year. The queen applicant must be 18 by August 1 and enrolled or accepted at an accredited college or university. The princess applicant must be between 10 and 18 on the date the award application is submitted.
• Youth Camp Instructor/Counselor Grant for persons who can provide a positive camp experience for young people participating in the District Two Sons of Norway Youth Camp Program.
• Youth Leadership Award is for one young person 18-25 planning on attending an institution of higher learning or trade school. The amount of the award is $1,000.

Applications are available at Leif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th Street, Seattle WA 98107. Visit lelodge.sharepoint.com/Pages/ChildrensEvents.aspx for more information.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

The Norway-America Association
Every year, NORAM offers up to 10 scholarships to American students planning to study or currently studying in Norway. The amounts vary from $1,500 to $5,000. Scholarships are only for graduate level studies, both exchange and whole degree in Norway. The project description must be of academic merit, and the project must be feasible within the framework proposed.

Deadline: April 1, 2016

Norwegian Commercial Club in Seattle
The Norwegian Commercial Club is offering scholarships through its Scholarship Fund. There will be four awards totaling up to about $18,000. The first is for a $5,000 cash-only award sent to the educational institute of the award recipient. The second award for $5,000 total includes the cash award and one round trip airline ticket to Oslo, Norway, for study in Scandinavia. This ticket is supported by IcelandAir. The third award for $5,000 is an NCC Fisheries Scholarship available to high school seniors or graduate students seeking to pursue a career in fisheries management or fisheries research in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska, or to students in fishery technical schools, such as the Maritime Academy. The fourth scholarship is The Douglas Warne University of Oslo International Summer School Scholarship toward tuition and expenses for the International Summer School at the University of Oslo. The ISS scholarship is limited to students who live or attend school in Washington.

Visit www.norwegiancommercialclub.com/nccscholarshipfund/programapplication.html for more information.

Deadline: April 5, 2016

Minnesota Office of Higher Education
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) provides stipends on a first-come, first-serve basis, to cover all or a portion of the direct cost for students in grades 3-11 to attend eligible summer academic enrichment programs. The Summer Enrichment stipend will cover the cost of the summer program transportation up to a maximum amount of $1,000. Minnesota residents eligible for free or reduced priced lunches and meeting the grade requirement are eligible.

For more info visit www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1958.

Deadlines: Vary

Daughters of Norway Grand Lodge
The Grand Lodge Daughters of Norway offers scholarships to full-time college, university, technical, or vocational students. The applicant should have at least sophomore standing, meet the grade requirement, and be a member of the Daughters of Norway or related to a member. The number of awards varies with the funds, but at least one award of $1,000 is offered each year.

Visit www.daughtersofnorway.org/about/scholarships for more information.

Deadline: July 15, 2016

The American Scandinavian Foundation
ASF offers fellowships (up to $23,000) and grants (up to $5,000) to individuals to pursue research, study, or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian country for up to one year. Applicants must have completed their undergraduate education by the start of their project in Scandinavia and have a well-defined project that makes a stay in Scandinavia essential.

Visit www.amscan.org/fellowships-and-grants/fellowshipsgrants-to-study-in-scandinavia for more eligibility requirements and application.

Deadline: Nov. 1, 2016

This article originally appeared in the Feb. 12, 2016, issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.