MSSA Diversity Scholarship

About

MSSA's core values and beliefs include social responsibility, equity, and inclusion, and we support policies that work towards racial justice and the elimination of disparities. The purpose of the MSSA Diversity Scholarship is to work toward the elimination of these disparities. We believe that supporting efforts to increase diversity within the health and human service profession is one important step to the reduction of disparities within this system and our diversity scholarships are intended to work toward this effort.

Award Amount and Number of Scholarships

MSSA awards two (2) undergraduate diversity scholarships in the amount of $2,500 and three (3) graduate diversity scholarships in the amount of $3,000.

Eligibility Requirements - Diversity Scholarship

Only applications that meet all eligibility requirements will be reviewed.

• To apply, applicants must be members of MSSA and must maintain active membership throughout the award period. Membership for students is free; more information can be found here.
• Students must be enrolled in an accredited program at a nonprofit academic institution leading to a degree in a health and human service-related field. Common majors and Masters programs include, but are not limited to:
  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • Counseling
  • Healthcare Services Administration
  • Alcohol and Drug Studies
  • Family Consumer Science
  • Health Science
  • Criminal Justice
  • Human Development and Family Services
  • Sociology
  • Public Administration
• The scholarship award recipient will be asked to submit verification of enrollment prior to fund disbursal. 
• Preference is given to applicants planning to work in the Midwest—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota or North Dakota. 
• For the Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship, applicants must:
  • Have at least one semester left before graduating (Fall 2024, Winter 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025). 
  • Have declared a health and human service-related major. 
• For the Graduate Diversity Scholarship, applicants must: 
  • Have at least one semester left before graduating (Fall 2024, Winter 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025).
  • Have applied to, have been accepted into, or are currently enrolled in an accredited graduate degree program. Disbursement of funds will be contingent on the full admission of the candidate into the program.

Application Criteria

Applicants will complete the following:

• Online application form
• Three to four essay questions regarding career goals, interest in health and human services, and commitment to eliminating disparities in the field
  
• Two letters of reference, with at least one from a professional or academic relationship
  

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Diversity Scholarship recipients!

Abdukhaaliq Farah
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Diversity - Graduate Scholarship recipient;

Yesmin Melgar
Metro State University
Diversity - Undergraduate Scholarship recipient