Northern Tier Seasonal Staff Scholarship Program

Scholarship Program

The Northern Tier Seasonal Staff Scholarship Program provides qualified individuals with post-secondary educational funding assistance of a total of up to $3,000, paid over a three year period. Recipients must exhibit both academic competence and exemplary ongoing service to youth.

Scholarship Qualifications

• Must be registered as a student at an accredited post-secondary educational institution offering degree or recognized certification.
• Must be a student in good academic standing.
• Must be a current seasonal staff member of the Northern Tier National High Adventure Programs of the Boy Scouts of America, and have been employed for ten weeks during the 12 months immediately prior to August 31 of the current year.
• Must have successfully completed at least two seasons on the staff of the Northern Tier National High Adventure Programs, and be approved by Northern Tier management.
• Qualified Northern Tier seasonal staff members must complete a Seasonal Staff Scholarship application. Applications are available from the Northern Tier business office.

Scholarship Awards

• Members of the Northern Tier seasonal staff who have successfully completed their second season on the staff and meet qualifications are eligible to receive a $1000 scholarship.
• Those members completing their third and fourth seasons are eligible for additional $1000 scholarships, for a maximum of $3000 award.
• Scholarship awards are paid directly to the post-secondary educational institution, upon verification of the recipient's academic status. The scholarship award will be credited to the recipient's account. Scholarships are awarded based on availability of funds from endowments and donors.

History of the Program

The concept of a scholarship program for the seasonal staff members of the Northern Tier bases was a dream of Clyde "Sandy" Bridges, long-time Northern Tier Director. Sandy envisioned a scholarship program as part of a plan to encourage quality staff members to return to the Northern Tier seasonal staff during all of their college years. Sandy recognized that having seasonal staff serve more than one season was essential to maintaining and improving the quality of the wilderness experience of the youth participants. A scholarship program for college student seasonal staff would help enable this goal.

The Northern Tier Seasonal Staff Scholarship Program was implemented in the fall of 1998, after initial funding by then-Northern Tier Committee Chair Steve Fossett. The eligible members of the 1998 seasonal staff were the first recipients of scholarships.

Scholarship Funding

The Northern Tier Seasonal Staff Scholarship program is funded entirely through tax-deductible donations to the Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. 100% of the money donated to fund scholarships is awarded as scholarships.

Endowed Scholarships

The long-term goal of the program is to establish an endowment fund to generate a significant portion of the annual scholarship grants. The scholarship endowment fund has been named as the future benefactor of significant gifts from trusts. In addition, five named endowed scholarships have been established, to be awarded to individuals based on the recommendations of Northern Tier Management staff.

The Christopher D. Breen Memorial Scholarship was endowed by his family. This scholarship will be a perpetual honoring of Chris' exemplary service to youth, most particularly as a Northern Tier seasonal staff member.

The Terry J. Wall Charles Sommers Scholarship has been endowed by Dr. Terry J. Wall, many time trip advisor and friend of Northern Tier. Award preference is given to an Eagle Scout staff member.

The Erickson Memorial Scholarship has been endowed by William C. Erickson and Helen and Robert Ostman in honor of the memory of their parents Edith and Axel Erickson. The scholarship is awarded to a person who has provided outstanding service in a base staff position at one of the Northern Tier bases.

The David Hyink Scholarship has been endowed by friends of Dave "Pheasant" Hyink, in gratitude for his outstanding service as founding member and first president of the Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association.

The Butch Diesslin Scholarship has been endowed by friends of Blaine "Butch" Diesslin in honor of his many years of service as founding member and first secretary of the Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association.