Minnesota Association for Korean Americans Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Minnesota Association for Korean Americans
Overview
The Minnesota Association for Korean Americans (MAKA) will offer a limited number of scholarships to Minnesota high school seniors of Korean origin or heritage who plan to continue their education after high school. These awards are designed to boost the self-confidence of Korean-heritage students and encourage completion of a college degree. All eligible students are invited to apply.
Award amounts
The review committee will evaluate each application and select recipients for a one-time, non-renewable $1,500 scholarship. In addition, an extra $500 may be awarded to standout applicants in categories such as top overall student, athlete, artist, STEM scholar, or exceptional essay writer, when applicable.
Eligibility (2025–2026)
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Enrolled as a Minnesota high school senior during the 2025–2026 school year
- Korean heritage (at least 25% biologically Korean)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Available to attend the awards event “Celebrating Tomorrow” in Spring 2026
How to apply — required materials
Submit all of the following items:
1. Completed application form and a recent photo of the applicant (JPEG preferred).
2. Official high school transcripts covering the last two school years — a scanned copy or photograph is acceptable; a sealed third-party transcript is not required.
3. (Optional) PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores (PDF file).
4. Scholarship essay (400–650 words). Choose one prompt:
- Topic 1: Describe a time you experienced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you and what lessons did you take away from the experience?
- Topic 2: What does being Korean American in Minnesota mean to you?
Additional notes
- Materials submitted for the application will not be returned.
- To be considered for the “top student” recognition, you must include your standardized test scores (ACT/SAT/AP).
- To be considered for the “top athlete” recognition, provide detailed information about athletic honors and awards.
- Essays generated by AI will be disqualified from MAKA scholarship consideration.