William S. and Margaret I. Marvin Warroad Four-Year College Scholarship Program
Established by the Marvin family, the William S. and Margaret I. Marvin Warroad Scholarships recognize graduating Warroad High School seniors who exemplify the civic-mindedness of William S. and Margaret I. Marvin.
William S. and Margaret I. Marvin Warroad Four-Year College Scholarship Program
William S., known as Bill, and Margaret I. (Wallin) Marvin grew up during the Depression, a time when pursuing higher education was rare. Despite this limitation, both attended college and graduated in 1939— Margaret from Macalester College and Bill from the University of Minnesota. Throughout their lives, they tirelessly advocated for the benefits of higher education, contributing to community, and paying it forward for generations to come.
Both volunteered their time to worthy, civic-related causes and held leadership roles in organizations such as Girl Scouts and the Warroad Commercial Club (now known as the Warroad Chamber of Commerce). They didn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand where needed. They treasured their education and chose the lasting gift of knowledge as the single most important gift they could share with the people of the Warroad community.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
William S. and Margaret I. Marvin Warroad Four-Year College Scholarship Program must:
- Be a graduating Warroad High School senior (class of 2026).
- Be enrolled full-time at Warroad High School during Junior and Senior year.
- Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college, or
university for the entire upcoming academic year. - Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).
Grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren of William S. and Margaret I. Marvin are ineligible.
Awards
The scholarship amount is equal to the cost of tuition and fees at the scholarship recipient’s enrolling educational institution* within the following parameters:
- Award amounts are prorated based on the number of years of full-time attendance at Warroad Schools. Students participating in Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program may also receive prorated awards. The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation will have final authority regarding award amounts.
- Four-year awards are up to a maximum award equivalent to the average of the tuition and fees* at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State University, St. Cloud State University, Moorhead State University, North Dakota State University, and the University of North Dakota. Award amounts are calculated in June and are estimated to be up to a maximum of $12,500 in 2026. Awards are renewable up to three additional consecutive years with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25.
Scholarships may be deferred up to four years for active-duty military service. Deferrals will not be granted for participation in sports or other activities.
*As posted for the current year on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website. The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation will have final authority regarding award amounts and/or percentages each year.
Notification
Awards will be announced at the Warroad High School Senior Awards night, held near the end of May. Formal notifications to follow in June. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients.
Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.
Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Payments are made in one installment in July.
Selection of Recipients
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of and factored into the selection process in the following manner:
- Academic record (40%)
- Community involvement through volunteerism (30%)
- Participation in school-based extracurricular activities (20%)
- Work experience (10%)
A minimum of 100 hours of community volunteerism accumulated between Grade 7 and Grade 12 is required.
Financial need is not considered.
Selection of recipients is made by the William S. and Margaret I. Marvin Scholarship Committee. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload the following:
- A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
- Student name
- School name
- Grades
- Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken
- A minimum of 100 hours of community volunteerism accumulated between Grade 7 and Grade 12 is required. Practices, rehearsals, and travel time do not qualify. You will be required to upload an official list of your volunteer hours verified and signed by Brienne Miller. Please utilize the school provided form. Be specific about the amount of time devoted. Make sure to list any leadership position you have held in your community-based volunteer activities.
Also as part of your application, one online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than March 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM Central Time. Recommenders are people who can provide information on your behalf about your skills, strengths and goals (for example, a school counselor, supervisor at a job, professor/teacher, coach or mentor). A recommender cannot be related to you.
Your application is not complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically.
