Apply now for the second annual United Way Youth United contest, $10,000 in scholarships available

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

The contest will award scholarships of up to $10,000 among students who answer the question, “What do you think is the greatest need or challenge in your community and how do you think UWNEMN or similar groups can meet that need or solve it?” challenge? ?”

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

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

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

Applications will be accepted from November 1, 2024 through 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 $1,000.

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