The Minnesota Power Foundation Positively Powerful Scholarship Fund provides need-based scholarships to deserving students in Minnesota Power’s service area who demonstrate integrity, academic achievement, grit and perseverance.

These scholarships minimize financial barriers to higher education while creating an economically thriving and culturally vibrant talent community in northeast and central Minnesota. Qualified students must be pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business, management, computers, engineering, finance, marketing, education, sciences or the trades. Students also must reside in one of the following Minnesota counties: Aitkin, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pine, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd and Wadena.

Eligibility 

• Graduate of: Any Minnesota High School in the MN Power Service Community
• Pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Economics, Education (Math & Science), Engineering, Math, Science, Technology or AA/AS:  Accounting, Business, Economics, Education (Math & Science), Electrical Maintenance/Power Generation, Energy Production/Management, Engineering, Finance, Industrial Technology/Controls, Lineman, Process Automations/Engineering, Science, Technology, or the trades
• Reside in one of the following Minnesota counties: Aitkin, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pine, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd and Wadena.
• Attend one of the following schools: Central Lakes College, the College of St. Scholastica, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Hibbing Community College, Iron Range Engineering, Itasca Community College, Lake Superior College, Leech Lake Tribal College, Mesabi Range College, Rainy River Community College, the University of Minnesota Duluth or Vermilion Community College
• Demonstrate Financial Need: have an expected family contribution to their education of no more than $25,000.
• GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Demonstrate grit and perseverance 

Scholarship Grant Range

• $1,500 – $2,500 for up to two years (Total $3,000-$5,000) 

Application timeline

• This scholarship is part of the Universal Application: December 1 – February 13
• ONE Universal Application: Create a profile in the scholarship portal. Fill out the first page of the universal application to filter through all of the scholarships you qualify for. 

Award Details

• This scholarship may be used for expenses of post-secondary education at any accredited college, university or technical/ vocational school

• Award Payments will be mailed directly to the school/ university 
  • Fall Payments are mailed July 15-30
  • Spring Payments are mailed December 15-30
• Transferring Schools: Please contact DSACF if you plan on transferring schools. Transferring schools does not automatically transfer your scholarship. If a transfer occurs after scholarship money has been disbursed it may take up to 90 days to reprocess the scholarship payment. 

Tax information

DSACF encourages scholarship recipients to seek tax advice regarding scholarships. According to the IRS: Scholarships, fellowship grants, and other grants are tax-free if you meet the following conditions:

• You’re a candidate for a degree at an educational institution that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where it carries on its educational activities; and
• The amounts you receive are used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the educational institution.