Scholarships

Reach Higher Montana Scholarship

(80) $2,000 Scholarships. High School Seniors or College Students who have/will graduate from a Montana High School, completed the FAFSA, and attend (at least half-time) an accredited Montana post-secondary institution/program.

Carl Valvoda Scholarship

(1) $2,000 Scholarship. Must complete the Reach Higher Montana Scholarship application and is serving or have served in the ROTC program or the U.S. Armed Forces.

Bridging the Gap Scholarship

$1,000 for one or more recipients.  Must complete the Reach Higher Montana Scholarship application and will or have aged out of the Foster Care system.

Kelly Kuntz Scholarship

$2,000 Scholarship. Montana high school graduate in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of post-secondary education, working towards a business-related degree.

Judy Martz Scholarship

$5,000 for one or more recipients. Female residents of Montana, 18 years old or older, with demonstrated leadership potential, a vision for their future leadership, preferably in service to Montana.

Horse Creek Scholarship

(6) $1,500 Scholarships. High school seniors or college students who have/will graduate from a Montana High School, have/will complete the FAFSA by April 1, attend (at least half-time) ANY accredited post-secondary institution nationwide, pursuing a certificate/degree in a business-related field or has completed at least one Business/Finance related course in high school or college. Two scholarships given preference to graduates/residents of Beaverhead and Madison Counties.

Mary McCue Pre-Dental Student Scholarship

(3) $500 Scholarships. Montana college students pursuing a career in dentistry and planning on applying to dental school.

Gilman Family Scholarship

(2) $1,250 Scholarships. Post-secondary students in their 2nd or later years of schooling, attending full-time, and pursuing a major or degree in the Trades, Agriculture, or Natural Resources related program of study. Applicants must have attended Sheridan or Twin Bridges High Schools.

Rotary of Helena Scholarship

(2) $1,500 Scholarships. High School Seniors graduating from Helena area high schools (Capital HS, Helena HS, East Helena HS, & Project for Alternative Learning).

1. When can I apply for scholarships using the “It’s Scholarship Time” application?
   • The “It’s Scholarship Time” application is open annually from January 1 thru March 1.
2. How do I apply for a scholarship on the Reach Higher Montana ‘It’s Scholarship Time’ application?
   • Visit https://www.reachhighermontana.org/plan-your-future/scholarships and click on the “Apply Now!” button
   • If you are a first time applicant, select “Create New Account” or enter your email and password, then click ‘Log On” for returning applicants.
3. What if I have forgotten the password to my account?
   • You have two options. You can go the RHM Scholarship Application login screen (https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=SAF) and select the “Forgot Your Password” link or you can email the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected] for assistance.
4. I completed the eligibility questions and did not get the scholarship(s) I thought I qualified for. What can I do?
   • Send an email to our Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected].
5. What do I do if, after submitting my initial eligibility responses, information submitted needs to be changed?
   • Please contact the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected] or 406-880-1145 if you need to change any of the responses on the eligibility questions. Be aware, changes to any of the answers may change which applications you are eligible for.
6. Can I submit a paper application?
   • No, we are only able to accept applications through our online scholarship program.
7. Will I have to complete separate applications for each scholarship I am eligible to apply for?
   • Yes and no. Individual scholarships will have supplemental questions that you will need to complete before you can submit each application. Because some scholarships use the same questions, you will only have to answer the question once and that answer will show up on any scholarships that use that same question. You will only have to complete the eligibility questions once per scholarship year to determine which scholarships you are eligible to apply for.
8. How will I be notified whether or not I have received a scholarship?
   • All applicants will receive an email in early May letting them know if they received a scholarship, have been selected as an alternate, or if they were not selected. These emails will come from an @grantinterface.com email. Check your email regularly.
9. Do I have to submit an ‘official’ transcript for proof of grades/GPA?
   • No, we will accept unofficial transcripts as long as the date the report was pulled, your
     name, student ID number, and GPA are visible.
10. Can I defer a scholarship to a later date?
    • We prefer recipients use their scholarships for the upcoming academic year. However, because we know that life happens, we will make deferment decisions on a case-by-case basis. To request a deferment, please contact the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected].
11. Can I still receive my scholarship if I am attending a school outside of Montana?
    • Eligibility for each scholarship varies. Many of the scholarships you will be eligible for do require you to attend a Montana post-secondary program of study but not all of them. If you indicate in the eligibility questions that you will be attending an out-of-state program of study, you will not be eligible to complete any applications that require the recipient to remain in Montana.
    • If after you submit your application you choose to change intended post-secondary programs, please notify the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected] so he can reset your eligibility criteria and re-submit your eligibility responses.
12. Can I reapply for a scholarship?
    • Yes! All of the scholarships available through the “It’s Scholarship Time” application are non-renewable meaning they are awarded on a year by year basis only. Applicants are encouraged to reapply each year if they remain eligible for the application whether or not they have previously won the scholarship. Every year, applicants must complete an application for any scholarships which they are eligible for and will be re-evaluated with the current year applications.
13. If I have previously won a scholarship and then reapply, am I more likely to receive it again?
    • No. Every year an application is open, a new committee will evaluate submissions. They do not receive applicant names or information on any prior awards won. This ensures everyone has an equal opportunity each year they apply.
14. How will I receive scholarship funds I am selected to receive?
    • All scholarship awards will be paid directly to the school you will be attending. You will receive an email with follow-up instructions that you must complete before funds will be sent; these include provision of your final prior semester grades or transcript and an enrollment verification form that your school will have to complete on your behalf.
15. How will my award be paid out?
    • All scholarship awards are sent to your school for the full amount, the first term you are enrolled. Be aware, however, that each post-secondary institution reserves the right to determine how your award is applied to your student account. It is standard practice for schools to split the total award amount equally across two semesters or three trimesters depending on academic schedules.
16. When is my scholarship awarded?
    • This depends on how quickly you, the applicant, return the required follow-up documents that will be requested from you. Once your grades and your enrollment verification are received, funds will be disbursed within two weeks.
    • Because checks are mailed, we cannot guarantee how long it will take for your funds to appear on your student account. Total time is dependent on many factors including the US Postal Service, how campus mail is handled, how big the financial aid staff is, how busy they are, and more. Remember, the sooner you complete your follow-up tasks, the sooner we can release your funds.
17. Can my scholarship be transferred to another school?
    • Yes. You will need to talk to the financial aid office at both schools to see if they have an internal agreement on the transferring of unused scholarship funds between schools.

      You can also contact the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected] or 406-880-1145 for assistance.

18. What happens if new scholarships are added after I have submitted my eligibility responses?
    • In the event new scholarship opportunities are added to the ‘It’s Scholarship Time’ application, the Programs Manager, Steven Coop, will run a new eligibility check for that scholarship on any application previously submitted. If you come back as eligible, you will receive an email letting you know another scholarship is available for you to complete supplemental questions for.
19. Can I still submit an application if I missed the deadline?
    • No. We have set a firm deadline of March 1st at 11:59 PM MST. Applicants are encouraged to apply early so that they have time to complete the application on time.

The details: Students must be a Montana high school student in grades 9-12 and plan on attending an accredited institution after high school. 

The contest will run Nov. 1 - Nov. 30. Prizes will be awarded by a random drawing on the following week. Winners will be posted on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Prizes include: six $500 scholarships

Six (6) scholarships of $500 each will be awarded to four students via random drawing from all eligible Montana students (those in grades 9-12 during the 2023-2024 academic year) who complete the challenge. Students will have one year from their high school graduation date to claim their scholarship. Unclaimed scholarships will be forfeited. Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the accredited institution of the student's choice upon receipt of enrollment verification from the institution. Scholarships cannot be transferred to other individuals. Scholarship can be used at any accredited US institution. Student Assistance Foundation, Workmosis, and Reach Higher Montana employees and their immediate family are not eligible.

Reach Higher Montana Scholarship

(80) $2,000 Scholarships. High School Seniors or College Students who have/will graduate from a Montana High School, completed the FAFSA, and attend (at least half-time) an accredited Montana post-secondary institution/program.

Carl Valvoda Scholarship

(1) $2,000 Scholarship. Must complete the Reach Higher Montana Scholarship application and is serving or have served in the ROTC program or the U.S. Armed Forces.

Bridging the Gap Scholarship

$1,000 for one or more recipients.  Must complete the Reach Higher Montana Scholarship application and will or have aged out of the Foster Care system.

Kelly Kuntz Scholarship

$2,000 Scholarship. Montana high school graduate in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of post-secondary education, working towards a business-related degree.

Judy Martz Scholarship

$5,000 for one or more recipients. Female residents of Montana, 18 years old or older, with demonstrated leadership potential, a vision for their future leadership, preferably in service to Montana.

Horse Creek Scholarship

(6) $1,500 Scholarships. High school seniors or college students who have/will graduate from a Montana High School, have/will complete the FAFSA by April 1, attend (at least half-time) ANY accredited post-secondary institution nationwide, pursuing a certificate/degree in a business-related field or has completed at least one Business/Finance related course in high school or college. Two scholarships given preference to graduates/residents of Beaverhead and Madison Counties.

Mary McCue Pre-Dental Student Scholarship

(3) $500 Scholarships. Montana college students pursuing a career in dentistry and planning on applying to dental school.

Gilman Family Scholarship

(2) $1,250 Scholarships. Post-secondary students in their 2nd or later years of schooling, attending full-time, and pursuing a major or degree in the Trades, Agriculture, or Natural Resources related program of study. Applicants must have attended Sheridan or Twin Bridges High Schools.

Rotary of Helena Scholarship

(2) $1,500 Scholarships. High School Seniors graduating from Helena area high schools (Capital HS, Helena HS, East Helena HS, & Project for Alternative Learning).

1. When can I apply for scholarships using the “It’s Scholarship Time” application?
   • The “It’s Scholarship Time” application is open annually from January 1 thru March 1.
2. How do I apply for a scholarship on the Reach Higher Montana ‘It’s Scholarship Time’ application?
   • Visit https://www.reachhighermontana.org/plan-your-future/scholarships and click on the “Apply Now!” button
   • If you are a first time applicant, select “Create New Account” or enter your email and password, then click ‘Log On” for returning applicants.
3. What if I have forgotten the password to my account?
   • You have two options. You can go the RHM Scholarship Application login screen (https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=SAF) and select the “Forgot Your Password” link or you can email the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected] for assistance.
4. I completed the eligibility questions and did not get the scholarship(s) I thought I qualified for. What can I do?
   • Send an email to our Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected].
5. What do I do if, after submitting my initial eligibility responses, information submitted needs to be changed?
   • Please contact the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected] or 406-880-1145 if you need to change any of the responses on the eligibility questions. Be aware, changes to any of the answers may change which applications you are eligible for.
6. Can I submit a paper application?
   • No, we are only able to accept applications through our online scholarship program.
7. Will I have to complete separate applications for each scholarship I am eligible to apply for?
   • Yes and no. Individual scholarships will have supplemental questions that you will need to complete before you can submit each application. Because some scholarships use the same questions, you will only have to answer the question once and that answer will show up on any scholarships that use that same question. You will only have to complete the eligibility questions once per scholarship year to determine which scholarships you are eligible to apply for.
8. How will I be notified whether or not I have received a scholarship?
   • All applicants will receive an email in early May letting them know if they received a scholarship, have been selected as an alternate, or if they were not selected. These emails will come from an @grantinterface.com email. Check your email regularly.
9. Do I have to submit an ‘official’ transcript for proof of grades/GPA?
   • No, we will accept unofficial transcripts as long as the date the report was pulled, your
     name, student ID number, and GPA are visible.
10. Can I defer a scholarship to a later date?
    • We prefer recipients use their scholarships for the upcoming academic year. However, because we know that life happens, we will make deferment decisions on a case-by-case basis. To request a deferment, please contact the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected].
11. Can I still receive my scholarship if I am attending a school outside of Montana?
    • Eligibility for each scholarship varies. Many of the scholarships you will be eligible for do require you to attend a Montana post-secondary program of study but not all of them. If you indicate in the eligibility questions that you will be attending an out-of-state program of study, you will not be eligible to complete any applications that require the recipient to remain in Montana.
    • If after you submit your application you choose to change intended post-secondary programs, please notify the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected] so he can reset your eligibility criteria and re-submit your eligibility responses.
12. Can I reapply for a scholarship?
    • Yes! All of the scholarships available through the “It’s Scholarship Time” application are non-renewable meaning they are awarded on a year by year basis only. Applicants are encouraged to reapply each year if they remain eligible for the application whether or not they have previously won the scholarship. Every year, applicants must complete an application for any scholarships which they are eligible for and will be re-evaluated with the current year applications.
13. If I have previously won a scholarship and then reapply, am I more likely to receive it again?
    • No. Every year an application is open, a new committee will evaluate submissions. They do not receive applicant names or information on any prior awards won. This ensures everyone has an equal opportunity each year they apply.
14. How will I receive scholarship funds I am selected to receive?
    • All scholarship awards will be paid directly to the school you will be attending. You will receive an email with follow-up instructions that you must complete before funds will be sent; these include provision of your final prior semester grades or transcript and an enrollment verification form that your school will have to complete on your behalf.
15. How will my award be paid out?
    • All scholarship awards are sent to your school for the full amount, the first term you are enrolled. Be aware, however, that each post-secondary institution reserves the right to determine how your award is applied to your student account. It is standard practice for schools to split the total award amount equally across two semesters or three trimesters depending on academic schedules.
16. When is my scholarship awarded?
    • This depends on how quickly you, the applicant, return the required follow-up documents that will be requested from you. Once your grades and your enrollment verification are received, funds will be disbursed within two weeks.
    • Because checks are mailed, we cannot guarantee how long it will take for your funds to appear on your student account. Total time is dependent on many factors including the US Postal Service, how campus mail is handled, how big the financial aid staff is, how busy they are, and more. Remember, the sooner you complete your follow-up tasks, the sooner we can release your funds.
17. Can my scholarship be transferred to another school?
    • Yes. You will need to talk to the financial aid office at both schools to see if they have an internal agreement on the transferring of unused scholarship funds between schools.

      You can also contact the Programs Manager, Steven Coop at [email protected] or 406-880-1145 for assistance.

18. What happens if new scholarships are added after I have submitted my eligibility responses?
    • In the event new scholarship opportunities are added to the ‘It’s Scholarship Time’ application, the Programs Manager, Steven Coop, will run a new eligibility check for that scholarship on any application previously submitted. If you come back as eligible, you will receive an email letting you know another scholarship is available for you to complete supplemental questions for.
19. Can I still submit an application if I missed the deadline?
    • No. We have set a firm deadline of March 1st at 11:59 PM MST. Applicants are encouraged to apply early so that they have time to complete the application on time.