Apply now for the 2nd annual United Way Youth United Competition, $10,000 in scholarships available

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota’s second annual United Youth Challenge is now open to high school seniors in the organization’s service area. This area includes: Iron Range, Koochiching County, and Lake of the Woods County.

The competition will award up to $10,000 in scholarships to students who answer the question, “What do you see as the greatest need or challenge in your community and what are your thoughts on how UWNEMN or similar groups can meet that need or solve that challenge?” ?”

Responses can be submitted in writing (750 words or less) or video (five minutes or less) via UWNEMN’s website. They will be judged on content, vision, and community service/awareness.

“This is an ideas contest, not an essay contest,” said UWNEMN Director of Community Impact Crystal Royer. “Every student in our district has a valuable perspective to offer, and we want to provide them with a platform to share their ideas.

By doing this, we can use their input to guide and strengthen the decisions we make in our work.”

Applications will be accepted from November 1, 2024 to January 6, 2025, and winners will be announced in March 2025. Scholarships will be awarded for expenses related to a four-year college, two-year college or trade school. The minimum scholarship will be $1000.

The first annual competition awarded $10,000 to seven finalists from Baudette, Cook, Gilbert, Hibbing, Makinen and Virginia, whose ideas included peer-to-peer mentoring, increased support for the arts, encouraging volunteerism and activities to combat isolation for seniors. long-term care facilities. Competition rules and details can be found at. www.unitedwaynemn.org/youth-united.