Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship

Background
The Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship was created in 1989 by the former Minnesota State University System as part of an effort to promote cultural diversity within the system. From 1997 through 2006 the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) helped administer the program. Today the scholarship operates independently under its own governance.

Purpose and funding
The award honors Nellie Stone Johnson, a longtime board member whose work advanced civil and human rights and supported workforce cultural diversity. The scholarship endowment stands as a lasting tribute to her activism. Research indicates that access to scholarship funding increases the likelihood of college completion and reduces dependence on student loans. Financial support for this program comes from private donors, including alumni, labor unions, corporate foundations, friends, and other supporters.

Scholarship overview
The Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship offers financial aid to racial and ethnic minority union members and their immediate family (child, grandchild, or spouse) who are pursuing postsecondary education at Minnesota State universities or two-year community and technical colleges. Award amounts are up to $2,500 for students enrolled full-time and up to $1,200 for part-time students.

Nellie Stone Johnson was a pioneering labor leader and public servant who promoted minority advancement and workers’ rights. Notably, she served as the first female president of the Minnesota Culinary Council and Local 665 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union, and in 1945 became the first Black person elected to a citywide office in Minneapolis when she joined the Library Board.

Selection and renewals
Applications are evaluated by the independent Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program Board. Recipients may apply for renewal in accordance with the program’s policies, though renewals are not guaranteed.

Eligibility requirements
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be enrolled at a Minnesota State college or university (including two-year community and technical colleges).
- Be a union member or be the child, grandchild, or spouse of a union member.
- Identify as a person of color.
- Meet the academic standards of their current institution.
- Maintain the minimum GPA: undergraduate applicants at least 2.0; graduate applicants at least 3.0.
- Be enrolled in one of the following statuses:
- Full-time: undergraduates carrying 12 or more credits; graduate students carrying 6 or more credits.
- Part-time: undergraduates carrying 6–11 credits; graduate students carrying 1–5 credits.

Renewal limits
Recipients may request renewal for up to:
- Two years at the college level (community/technical college),
- Four years at the university (bachelor’s) level,
- Two years for graduate study.

Application note
Incomplete applications will not be considered.