Swenson Family Scholarship

Swenson Family Scholarship

Full tuition and $1,000 for books/fees for incoming freshmen students that are U.S. citizens with at least a 3.0 GPA and majoring in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Math or Computer Science with financial need. The scholarship is renewable for three additional years as long as the recipient maintains the scholarship criteria and is enrolled full time.

If you would like more information about the Swenson Family Trust Scholarship or general admission requirements contact:

UW-Superior Admissions Office
Belknap & Catlin
PO Box 2000
Superior, WI 54880-4500
715-394-8230
admissions@uwsuper.edu 

What is it? 

The Swenson Family Trust Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship that includes a $1,000 annual stipend for books and other fees. Each year, it is awarded to eight qualified new freshmen students with financial need who are pursuing careers in biology, chemistry, math, computer science or environmental science. The scholarship is automatically renewed for three additional years as long as the student continues to major in biology, chemistry, math, computer science, or environmental science and maintain full-time status with a GPA of at least 3.0. Jim and Sue Swenson, alumni of UW-Superior, established the Swenson Family Trust Scholarship program in 1994. Their vision was to provide full-tuition scholarships to academically talented freshmen students enrolled at UW-Superior and majoring in biology, chemistry, math, computer science or environmental science. Since Jim and Sue received help through the generosity of others in funding their college educations, they feel strongly about “giving back” to students who qualify for financial assistance. 

Who’s Eligible? 

The Swenson Family Trust Scholarship is available to students who are U.S. citizens and majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Math or Computer Science. Students who receive this scholarship award will maintain the scholarship for a total of four years if they meet the following requirements: 

  1. Registration as a full-time student 
  2. Completion of course work in the declared major 
  3. Maintenance of an overall grade point average of 3.0 at the end of each academic year 
  4. Has financial need as determined by their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

If the student fails to meet these requirements, or transfers to another college or major, the scholarship will be discontinued and re-awarded to another student. 

Scholarship Criteria

To be eligible to receive this scholarship the following criteria must be met:

  • Applicant must be accepted as a freshman by UW-Superior
  • Applicant must have financial need as determined by the FAFSA
  • Only students whose overall high school GPA is at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and who score in the upper 25% in a standard college placement exam (ACT/SAT) will be considered

Application Process

  1. Apply for admissions to UW-Superior online
  2. Apply for federal student aid beginning on October 1st 
  3. Submit a Swenson Scholarship essay describing your interest in biology, chemistry, math, computer science, or environmental science (see Scholarship Application Essay form)
  4. Request a letter of support from an appropriate high school science teacher and submit by email to your admissions counselor or to admissions@uwsuper.edu, or in person to the Admissions Office, Yellowjacket Union 230

Applications and supplemental documents must be submitted on or before December 1st. 

View donor information.

Current students: Near the beginning of each calendar year, you will receive notification to your UW-Superior email account when it is time to apply for Foundation scholarships and how to do so. Applications usually open at the beginning of February and close at the beginning of March. Scholarships are awarded for the following academic year, beginning with the fall semester. Some scholarships, usually related to study abroad/away, always accept applications. See the Foundation scholarship process information page for details on how to apply.

Incoming freshmen and transfer students: Admitted students can complete the new student scholarship application to be considered for Foundation scholarships. Recipients will be notified by mail and email. See the Admissions Office’s scholarship page for details on how to apply.