Anderson Niskanen Scholarship Fund

The Anderson Niskanen Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for graduating seniors from Duluth public high schools who are in financial need for post-secondary education at the University of Minnesota Duluth or the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Suama Niskanen Anderson established the fund in 1998 as a memorial to her husband, Elmer Anderson, and her sister, Saima Niskanen. The Andersons were longtime residents of St. Louis County.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be graduates of Duluth Denfeld, Duluth East, Harbor City International School, or the Duluth Area Learning Center who plan to attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities or the University of Minnesota Duluth. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, demonstrate leadership, and will receive priority consideration if they show financial need for tuition assistance.

Award Range

$2,000 per year, up to 4 years ($8,000 total)

Grant Cycle

Universal Application

Application Timeline

Applications Open: December 1, 2025

Application Deadline: February 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Notification of Awards

Scholarship recipients will be notified by email no later than May 1, 2026

Scholarship Payments Sent to Schools

Fall semester: by July 30, 2026

Spring semester: by December 30, 2026

Award Details

This scholarship may be used for expenses of post-secondary education at any accredited college, university or technical/ vocational school

Award Payments will be mailed directly to the school/ university. 

Fall Payments are mailed July 15-30

Spring Payments are mailed December 15-30

Transferring Schools: Please contact DSACF if you plan on transferring schools. Transferring schools does not automatically transfer your scholarship. If a transfer occurs after scholarship money has been disbursed it may take up to 90 days to reprocess the scholarship payment.

Tax information

DSACF encourages scholarship recipients to seek tax advice regarding scholarships. According to the IRS: Scholarships, fellowship grants, and other grants are tax-free if you meet the following conditions:

• You’re a candidate for a degree at an educational institution that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where it carries on its educational activities; and
• The amounts you receive are used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the educational institution.