Polson Dollars for Scholars has big impact on students

As one member of the Polson Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Committee I would like to share some information with you.  Our organization has been involved in providing scholarships for Polson graduates since 2002.  Since that time, we have provided $161,150 to 244 graduates. This year we will increase that amount to $214,650 and 288 students.

 Many individual organizations also use Polson Dollars for Scholars to provide scholarships.  These include alumni classes such as the class of 1959, 1920-1955 and 1964.  Clubs such as the Montechato Club, the Women of Rollins Club, and the Employees of School District #23 provide money for scholarships.  We also have families who donate money through our organization such as the Paddy Trusler family, the Sue Gregg Lanier family, Ray and Maureen Theiler and their children and families, the Merle Anderson family, the Chris Hoyt family, the Wayne and Helen Gryde family, the Mildred and Hib Hanson family and the Toby Nelson family.

This year, with the combined effort of the above mentioned, and Polson Dollars for Scholars we offered nine different scholarships to graduating seniors and eleven scholarships to students who are currently attending colleges or vocational schools.  Because of the number of scholarship offered, we received 295 applications.   The scholarship committees read these applications and have to make very difficult choices to provide some of these very worth candidates with financial assistance.  This is not an easy process. Some students loose points because they do not read the requirements carefully, some do not provide current letters of recommendation, and some do not meet the requirements of the essay, etc.  But, we try to provide as many scholarships as we possibly can.  Every year it is disappointing to not be able to give each and every student some well-deserved money for college. 

The point of this letter is to say “Thank You” to anyone and everyone who continues to support Polson Dollars for Scholars.  We are an all-volunteer organization and we greatly appreciate the students who work so hard in an effort to earn scholarships as well as the individuals who make this process possible.

Chris Strom, Secretary

883-4526