Application Guidelines

Scholarships awards available:
As a business in the Austin, Minnesota, Dunlap, Tennessee, Abilene, Texas, and Kirksville, Missouri, communities, CRC recognizes the value of higher education for community youth. Therefore, CRC has elected to award up to eight $1,500 postsecondary education scholarships to senior high school students attending schools, both public and private, in the following communities:

• Austin, Minnesota
• Dunlap, Tennessee
• Abilene, Texas
• Kirksville, Missouri

The scholarships are reviewed, selected, and awarded (as applicable) by CRC representatives.

Who is eligible?

• All public and private high school seniors in Austin, Minnesota, Dunlap, Tennessee, Abilene, Texas, and Kirksville, Missouri, that will graduate in May/June 2026.
• High school senior sons and daughters of regular full- and part-time CRC employees will be given priority consideration.
• Preference will be given to applicants enrolled (or planning to) in either one of the following major emphasis: Communications, Information Technology, or Business Management.
• Applicant must be enrolled, approved, or planning to attend a college, a university, or a trade school at full-time status (12 credits per quarter/semester or more).
• Applicant must demonstrate good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher as of the last recording period.
• Student must have completed the ACT test and/or SAT test.
• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or disability.
• The scholarship will cover tuition and educational fees only.

How do I apply?
Complete the online application form by clicking the blue "Submit Scholarship Application" above and upload your related materials by 11:59 p.m. central time on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Please complete the following steps when applying for a CRC scholarship. Note that applications and other supporting documents become property of CRC.

Complete the online CRC scholarship application as well as a personal statement and student activity summary (described below). Your personal statement and student activity statement must be typed and uploaded during the online application process. To be considered, you must enter the information for the college/university/trade school you plan to attend. You will also have to upload the following:

• A copy of the acceptance letter or verification from the college/university or trade school you plan to attend. Note that recipients of the Austin Assurance Scholarship attending Riverland Community College in Austin, Albert Lea, and/or Owatonna, Minnesota, are not eligible for this scholarship.
• An official verification from your high school of your current GPA level.
• An official verification of completing an ACT and/or SAT test with scores.

Note that a .pdf version of the application is available via download by clicking here. If you prefer to complete the application manually, the application and your supporting documents can be hand delivered to one of CRC's offices or mailed to the following address once completed: Cooperative Response Center, Inc., Attn: Julie Schramek, 2000 8th Street NW, Austin, MN 55912. 

     Personal Statement

• If completing CRC's scholarship application online, you must upload a typed personal statement. Your personal statement must include the following factors:
   
  • Express your thoughts outlining your future goals and discuss why you feel you should be considered for a CRC scholarship.
  • List examples of the classes that you have taken in the last two years that have prepared you for your higher education experience and any academic honors and/or awards.
  • What sorts of jobs would you be interested in pursuing with your education? What are your career goals and objectives?
  • What prompted you or motivated you to pick the major emphasis of study that you have selected?

     Student Activity Summary

• In addition to your academic standing, CRC is interested in your school, civic/community, and extracurricular accomplishments and involvements. Please list your activities, including years of participation, offices held and honors received. Describe how these activities/experiences have prepared you for obtaining your future goals. 

     Areas to consider:

• Student Organizations - Student council, class office, clubs, yearbook, newspaper, etc.
• Athletics - Various sports teams, honors, etc.
• Art, Music, Speech/Drama - Vocal, instrumental, debate teams, theater productions, etc.
• Community Involvement, Philanthropy - Church, Boys/Girls State, 4-H, FFA, choirs, youth work, etc. 
• Employment - Paid or volunteer work
• Other - National Honor Society, scholarships, activities, awards, etc.

     CRC would like to answer the following questions related to one or more of the activities above:

1.  What is your favorite activity and why?
2. What lesson in life will you remember from that activity?

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Applications will be reviewed by CRC’s scholarship committee. CRC may choose to also meet with final candidates as part of the review process. To be awarded a CRC scholarship, a participant must complete all phases and/or submit all information required in the application process.

When will awards be announced?
CRC’s 2026 scholarship recipients will be announced in May 2026 at each recipient’s scholarship/awards ceremony, if applicable, or via email. A scholarship becomes confirmed and payable upon the recipient’s proof of enrollment in college. The scholarship will be paid to the college/university/trade school’s student accounting services office on the selected recipient’s behalf prior to the start of the Fall 2026 quarter/semester.

What about ACT/SAT test information?
All applicants for a CRC scholarship must take the standard American College Testing (ACT) or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) examinations. If your ACT/SAT score results are included as a part of your official grade transcript, a separate ACT/SAT report is not required.

Will the award cover all costs?
Maximum value of each full award is $1,500, payable in a lump sum payment. Scholarship funds may be applied to tuition and educational fees only.

How will the scholarship be awarded?

• Scholarship awards will be sent directly to the college/university/trade school on your behalf prior to the Fall 2026 tuition due date.
• Any funds forfeited will go back to CRC (or remain with CRC).

What college may I attend?

• Applicants may attend any associate or baccalaureate degree-granting college/university or trade school in the United States.
• There are no restrictions as to the course of study selected by a scholarship winner except that the program must lead to a degree.

Am I eligible to accept other scholarships?
Other scholarship opportunities may be available to you and you are free to pursue/accept any of these. However, any other financial awards you receive should be reported to CRC. Note that recipients of the Austin Assurance Scholarship attending Riverland Community College in Austin, Albert Lea, and/or Owatonna, Minnesota, are not eligible for this scholarship.