THE DR. MARK RATHKE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

HISTORY
Dr. Mark Rathke practiced emergency medicine in Duluth and was a leader within his field. He was also a healthy, active, involved parent and strong supporter of the Marshall School. Dr. Rathke was deeply interested in higher education, but was frustrated by the lack of scholarships available for Marshall School students. Following Dr. Rathke’s passing in 2000, his family and friends created this memorial scholarship to help fill this void and help future generations of Marshall School students to pursue their educational goals.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
A. Who May Apply
Graduating seniors of the Marshall School who will be attending a college or university as a full-time student.

B. Financial Need
Financial need is not a criterion of the Dr. Mark Rathke Family Scholarship Fund.

C. Academic Criteria
Applicants should have a grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher. Preference will be given to students who are not in the top 10% of the graduating class.

D. Number, Value and Duration of Awards
One scholarship of $1000 will be awarded each year. Generally, the annual award is divided into two installments, half for fall, half for spring.

E. Payment
The award is co-payable to the institution and the recipient.

APPLICATION INFORMATION
Applicants should complete the DSACF Common Scholarship Application. Application forms will also be available from the Marshall School Guidance Office. The complete application must be received to the DSACF by January 15th. That day our office will be open for hand delivery until 5:00pm. Electronic submissions and postmarks must be stamped before midnight. Late applications will not be considered.

DETERMINATION OF AWARDS
The Rathke Family Scholarship Committee will select individual scholarship recipients. This committee is made up of members of the Rathke family and representatives of the Marshall School and the Community Foundation. This committee will base their decision on the applicant’s academic record, hard-working behavior, good citizenship, leadership qualities, serious commitment to college education, written recommendations and involvement in community and extra-curricular activities.

AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT
Names of recipients will be announced as early as possible. Each applicant will receive an individual communication with the results of the committee’s decision regarding his/her application.

APPLICANT/RECIPIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• The majority of communication between applicants/recipients and the scholarship administrators will take place via email. Applicants/Recipients are required to have and regularly check their email and notify the Community Foundation of any changes to their contact information.
• All recipients of Community Foundation administered scholarships are expected to acknowledge acceptance of the award promptly by completing an Acceptance Form provided by the Community Foundation. If unable to accept the scholarship, the committee should be given that information and a reason in a prompt manor.
• In addition, the Rathke family would greatly appreciate a letter from the scholarship recipient which addresses how college life is going.
• A recipient must complete enough credits to be recognized as a full-time student in each semester an award is made. Likewise, a satisfactory grade point average (2.5) must be maintained.
• If the student receives funds from the college due to non-completion of a term or not attending full time, these funds are to be returned to the scholarship committee. If the college requirements are not met, but there is no refund, the scholarship grant will be forfeited for the next term.
• Recipients understand that the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation may use scholars’ names, photographs and any portion of application essays for use in scholarship publicity, such as broadcast media, websites, newspaper, radio, etc.
• The Rathke Scholarship Committee hopes that recipients recognize and appreciate the contributions their award has made to their futures. It further anticipates that, in the years to come, recipients find some way to give back to the community that provided them with these opportunities.

RENEWAL
This scholarship is not renewable.

View the next scholarship description.