On Thursday morning, May 25, 2017, Shakopee Dollars for Scholars (SDFS) organization presented a record amount of $100,400. to 112 Shakopee seniors, helping them continue their secondary education beyond high school. 380 people made up of students, parents, donors and volunteers came together to honor these award winners at the Shakopee Area Catholic School gym.
Introducing Renewable Awards. In addition to those awards, another $20,000 went to four students from last year's Shakopee class of 2016 in the form of renewable awards. Each student received another $5,000 in addition to the award they received at last year's ceremony. These students will receive $1,000 for their sophomore year, $1,500 for their junior year and the remaining $2,500 for their senior year of post-secondary schooling. The student's only requirements is to be enrolled full time and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0
SDFS believes that by offering these renewable awards, it will inspire all our students to get off to a good start as they begin their college career. This is another incentive for them to keep up the hard work they demonstrated in high school.
SDFS has a 39 year history in the Shakopee community. During those years, the organization has awarded over 1.4 million dollars to over 2,900 students. Without this financial assistance, many of these students would not have continued their education beyond high school or would have dropped out because of insufficient funds available. Scholarships are available to students living in the Shakopee School District who plan on attending a college, university, vocational and other specialized schooling.
SDFS obtains all of its donations from generous individual residents, businesses, organizations, alumni and its own fund raisers to come up with the money they distribute each year. Many past recipients have donated back their original scholarship amount they received years ago. Those donations are especially appreciated, since it shows that former students remember how much that extra money helped them when they needed it the most.
There are only a handful on Dollars for Scholars organizations in the entire metro area. Shakopee is fortunate to have had some ambitious people who, 39 years ago, recognized the need and worked to make the organization the success that it is today.