Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program

The Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program provides scholarships to minorities with a union affiliation and attending a MN State institution.

The scholarship program honors Nellie Stone Johnson. Nellie Stone Johnson had a long and distinguished record of public service in support of the advancement of minority concerns, the rights of workers, and equal opportunities for all people. Her life was a series of "firsts." As a leader of organized labor in the 1930s and 1940s, she was the first woman vice-president of the Minnesota Culinary Co

uncil and the first woman vice-president of Local 665 Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. She was also the first black person elected to citywide office in Minneapolis when she won a seat on the Library Board in 1945. Nellie Stone Johnson grew up with a strong tradition of support for education. Her mother and grandmother were teachers. Her father was a school board member in Dakota County. She left home at 17 to finish high school through the GED program at the University of Minnesota. After a number of years in the work force, Nellie continued her studies at the University of Wisconsin using the money she earned from trapping to finance her education there. Nellie's commitment to education continued through her work on the Minnesota Education Board. She also served on the Minnesota State University Board for eight years, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees. Nellie Stone Johnson was a life member of the NAACP and the National Coalition of Negro Women, a member of the National Coalition of Labor Women, the National League of Women Voters, the DFL Affirmative Action Committee and the DFL Feminist Caucus, the Democratic National Committee and a former board member of the Minnesota Urban League. She has received numerous awards, including the Urban League's Cecil E. Newman Humanitarian Award, Honorary Doctor of Letters - St. Cloud State University, Distinguished Minnesotan Award – Bemidji State University, and WCCO Good Neighbor Award. Labor and Education

The Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to racial minority union members and their families who wish to pursue an education at one of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The scholarship program was established by the former Minnesota State University System in 1989, as a part of the universities' cultural diversity initiative. MSUSA assisted in the administration of the program from 1997 to 2006. The scholarship program currently operates as an independent entity. The program honors Nellie Stone Johnson, a long-time member of the system's board. The endowment is a permanent reminder of Nellie's contributions to civil rights, human rights, and the rights of work force cultural diversity initiative focuses on the recruitment, retention and graduation of greater numbers of students of color. Evidence has shown that the success of minority students in completing college is in direct correlation to the financial assistance that is available. Scholarships also reduce students' dependence on loans and debt burden. The Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program's scholarship monies come from private sources, including alumni, labor unions, company foundations, friends and other supporters. Scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 are given each year to students who enroll in two year, undergraduate or graduate programs. The scholarship may be renewed for up to four years for students working toward a bachelor's degree, two years for students enrolled in a master's program, and up to two years for community or technical college program. A scholarship may be renewed one successive year if extenuating circumstances exist. When multiple awards are made, at least one recipient must be female.

Support Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program on GiveMN

11/06/2025

Support Students’ Futures: Give to the Max for the Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship is November 20th! Please consider scheduling your donation today! Your gift today builds tomorrow’s leaders.

Support Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program on GiveMN We provide scholarships to minority students with a union affiliation and attending one of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.Ini's passion is to become a nurse. Serena wants to work in law enforcement. Steve hopes to be an advocate with a degree in public...

11/21/2024

Please consider giving generously on Give the Max Day today!

04/17/2024

Applications continue to be accepted for the 2024-25 Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship! Application deadline is June 1, 2024.
To be eligible, a scholarship applicant must be a person of color, and a union member or be the child, grandchild, or spouse of a union member. Scholarships are awarded to both full-time and part-time students who will be attending a Minnesota State tech or community college or state university in the fall of 2024.
Scholarship amounts are up to:
$2,500 for full-time students (12 or more credits undergraduate or 6 credits or more graduate)
$1,200.00 for part-time students (6-11 credits undergraduate work)

To apply, go to https://form.jotform.com/240155277258156.

Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Application Please click the link to complete this form.

11/03/2023

Good Morning!

The 15th annual Give to the Max Day, Minnesota’s 24-hour online giving event, will kick off Thursday November 16th, 2023. We’re hoping you’ll take the opportunity to support the Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship. Help us support students!

Celebrating 37 years of helping students reach their goals!
26 scholarships have been awarded in 2022-2023

2023 marks the anniversary of the 37th year that Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship has been helping students reach their goals. We commit to raising enough funds to continue providing 20 students with scholarships in 2024. We can't do it alone. Will you help? You can go ahead and even schedule your gift right now! Scheduled giving is available between November 1st to November 14th.

Scholarships ranging from $900 to $2,300 are given each year to students who enroll in two year, undergraduate or graduate programs in the Minnesota State Colleges & University system.

Your tax-deductible contribution of $30, $50, $100 or whatever you can afford to give will help a student continue their dreams of making college a reality. Please help make those dreams come true!

Sincerely,
Erica
Vice Chair
Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Committee

P.S. Give to the Max Day is a great opportunity to let your family and friends know about the Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship. We hope you’ll forward this e-mail to a few of them or let them know about it through Facebook. Thanks so much.

Photos from Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program's post

06/17/2023

The 36th NSJ Scholarship Dinner on June 7, 2023 was a huge success and thanks to all who supported it! Congratulations to the scholarship recipients and we wish them the best for all things to come!

02/03/2023

Scholarship applications are now open!

404 Page — Students United

Nellie's State Capitol statue now a reality

11/22/2022

Check out KARE 11's coverage of the statue unveiling!

Nellie's State Capitol statue now a reality Lawmakers and labor groups fought for years for the statue of Nellie Stone Johnson.

11/22/2022

Nellie Stone Johnson honored with Capitol statue Minnesota policymakers and labor leaders on Monday unveiled the first Capitol statue to depict a female figure in history. And they remembered Nellie Stone Johnson for her coalition-building and influence shaping the current-day DFL Party.

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Location

Saint Paul

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Telephone

+18667385238

Website

https://givemn.org/organization/Nellie-Stone-Johnson-Scholarship-Program

Address

P. O. Box 40309
Saint Paul, MN
55104