2026 WomEn's Leadership Forum Scholarship Application ($2,000 Scholarship) - FINAL
At this year’s WomEn’s Leadership Forum, the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation will be awarding scholarships to female seniors attending high school in Dakota County. Scholarships of $2,000 will be awarded to young women who are selected based on the below criteria. Scholarships must be paid to an accredited educational institution in 2026, or it is forfeited.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, January 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
Scoring of the scholarship applicants will be based heavily on these five (5) criteria:
1. High-Demand Career. Pursuing a future in a high-demand careers that require advanced education beyond high school, certification or licensure. Specifically, these should be areas in greatest demand in Dakota County:
• Information Technology
• Health Care Services
• Construction & Manufacturing
• Transportation
• Law Enforcement
All occupations within these industries will all be considered. If there is an area of interest outside the indicated industries, applicants should be able to show how this occupation is in an industry with high-demand for its jobs.
Education may be at any post-secondary institution. Applicants are encouraged to consider opportunities at Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College, or Rasmussen University.
2. Challenges or Obstacles. This scholarship opportunity is meant to uplift students with particular promise who have faced challenges that may have kept you from earning a higher grade-point average. Your essay should reflect how you have overcome any challenges or hardships in your personal, family, or academic life that may have prevented you from earning a higher grade-point average.
3. Financial Hardship. Your essay should reflect a demonstrated need for financial assistance.
4. Special Considerations. In addition to the industry focus, consideration will be given to applicants who reflect in their essay their lived experiences with significant challenges that may include racial equity or language barriers within their schools or communities, and how it has impacted their opportunities. Being a child of recent immigrants or a first-generation college student are additional factors that will be considered.
5. Community Involvement Volunteer Work. Your application should showcase any community involvement or volunteer work you have done, if any.
6. Complete Application. To be considered, the application must be completed in its entirety.
Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than Friday, February 16, 2026 and should plan to attend a recognition ceremony to be held as part of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce WomEn’s Leadership Forum on Friday, March 13, 2026 held at the Radisson Blu – Mall of America. Additional details will follow if a scholarship is awarded.
*** PLEASE NOTE *** Read the below to make sure you have everything you need to attach. You must complete your submission once it is started, you will not be able to return to complete it at a later time.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, January 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
Scoring of the scholarship applicants will be based heavily on these five (5) criteria:
1. High-Demand Career. Pursuing a future in a high-demand careers that require advanced education beyond high school, certification or licensure. Specifically, these should be areas in greatest demand in Dakota County:
• Information Technology
• Health Care Services
• Construction & Manufacturing
• Transportation
• Law Enforcement
All occupations within these industries will all be considered. If there is an area of interest outside the indicated industries, applicants should be able to show how this occupation is in an industry with high-demand for its jobs.
Education may be at any post-secondary institution. Applicants are encouraged to consider opportunities at Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College, or Rasmussen University.
2. Challenges or Obstacles. This scholarship opportunity is meant to uplift students with particular promise who have faced challenges that may have kept you from earning a higher grade-point average. Your essay should reflect how you have overcome any challenges or hardships in your personal, family, or academic life that may have prevented you from earning a higher grade-point average.
3. Financial Hardship. Your essay should reflect a demonstrated need for financial assistance.
4. Special Considerations. In addition to the industry focus, consideration will be given to applicants who reflect in their essay their lived experiences with significant challenges that may include racial equity or language barriers within their schools or communities, and how it has impacted their opportunities. Being a child of recent immigrants or a first-generation college student are additional factors that will be considered.
5. Community Involvement Volunteer Work. Your application should showcase any community involvement or volunteer work you have done, if any.
6. Complete Application. To be considered, the application must be completed in its entirety.
Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than Friday, February 16, 2026 and should plan to attend a recognition ceremony to be held as part of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce WomEn’s Leadership Forum on Friday, March 13, 2026 held at the Radisson Blu – Mall of America. Additional details will follow if a scholarship is awarded.
*** PLEASE NOTE *** Read the below to make sure you have everything you need to attach. You must complete your submission once it is started, you will not be able to return to complete it at a later time.
