William H. McPherson, Jr. Scholarship Program
The William H. McPherson, Jr. Scholarship Program was established to assist young adults of Koochiching County who plan to continue their education in graduate, college or vocational school programs.
William H. McPherson, Jr. Scholarship Program
William H. McPherson, Jr. (Bill) received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1942 from Syracuse University and attended graduate school at the Institute for Paper Science and Technology in Appleton, WI. During World War II, he worked on the Manhattan Project (atomic bomb project) in Oak Ridge, TN, and thereafter returned to Appleton where he received his doctorate in paper chemistry. Bill moved to International Falls in 1952 so that he could become the supervisor of paper research with the new research lab owned by the Minnesota-Ontario Paper Company. In later years, Bill became the manager of the research laboratory, overseeing the activity of up to 50 scientific and technical employees.
Bill was very supportive of education, particularly in the sciences, and devoted much effort to Rainy River Community College, serving as a board member on the RRCC Foundation. The William H. McPherson, Jr. Scholarship Fund represents a goal that Bill had in mind for many years – that of supporting students of science.
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
Applicants of the William H. McPherson, Jr. Scholarship award must be:
- High school seniors or graduates or be current postsecondary undergraduates or graduate level students
- Planning to enroll or be currently enrolled in full-time, undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a physical, life or health-related science including, but not limited to, chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, geoscience, nursing, dietetics, and nutrition
- A current or past resident of Koochiching County for a minimum of one (1) year OR a graduate of a high school in Koochiching County, Minnesota
Awards
The authorized distribution for awards is determined annually by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation based on the total amount available from the The William Hakes McPherson Jr. Scholarship Fund.
If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $2,000 award or greater depending on available distribution and the number of qualified applicants.
Awards are not renewable. Previous recipients may reapply provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements and will be given preference in selection.
Awards are for undergraduate and graduate study only.
Notification
Applicants will be notified in April. 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. Awards will be paid in one installment in July.
Selection of Recipients
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:
- Academic performance
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
- An online recommendation
Financial need is not considered.
Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation or family members of William H. McPherson, Jr. play a part in the selection. 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.
NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.
One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than February 24, 2026 3:00 PM Central Time.
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
