No-essay scholarship contest gives first-generation college students the opportunity to use the creative arts to answer this question: What does being a First-Generation College Student mean to you?
The First-Generation Scholarship Contest Spring 2026 is a no-essay scholarship contest designed for first-generation college students to express their college journey through the creative arts to answer the following question:
What does being a First-Generation College Student mean to you?
Judges should be able to understand how the submission connects to this prompt. Submissions can include poetry, short story, music, mixed media, visual art, or performances. This list is not exhaustive as we encourage students to explore different ways to express themselves. View previous scholarship submissions.
Scholarship submissions are due by Friday, March 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
This is a general scholarship for first-generation students at Inver Hills. A committee will be formed to review the submissions; scholarship winners will be recognized at a celebration at the end of spring semester 2026. Funded by the Inver Hills Foundation, three scholarships will be awarded at the end of the semester:
- $2,500
- $1,500
- $1,000
Eligibility for the scholarship
- Must be a first-generation college student: neither parent/guardian have completed a 4-year (bachelor’s) degree from an academic institution in the United States
- Must be enrolled in at least 3 credits for the spring semester 2026
- Please note that if you are benefiting from the North Star Promise Scholarship, it may impact your ability to receive funds from this scholarship due to financial aid guidelines. To check if you are using this scholarship:
- Log into your e-Services account
- Click “Financial Aid” on the left panel of the page
- Click on “Awards” — Here you will view if you are utilizing the North Star Promise Scholarship or not
If you need help verifying your North Star Promise Scholarship eligibility, please contact Han Phung, Inver Hills counselor, via email: han.phung@inverhills.edu.
Submission Guidelines
- Submissions must be original work. Submissions cannot use any form of artificial intelligence (AI). Students must follow the academic integrity policy of Inver Hills.
- By submitting a work for this scholarship, students must agree to have their submission displayed or viewed publicly
- Submissions can be accepted as Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, JPEG, MP4, or YouTube link 2D submissions:
- 1 digital image of the piece
- 3D submissions: 3 images permitted
- Videos/recordings/audio cannot exceed 2 minutes. Submissions over 2 minutes will be disqualified.
- Written submissions cannot exceed 750 words. All submissions exceeding the word limit will be disqualified.
- Must include a written artist statement that is 200 words maximum. An artist statement is a brief piece of writing that helps the audience understand your art. We encourage you to write about what your submission represents and what you want the audience to feel. Read examples of artist statements.
Any questions should be directed to Han Phung, MA, LPCC, Inver Hills counselor, via email: han.phung@inverhills.edu with the subject line “First-Generation Scholarship.”
APPLY HERE
Sign on with your student email, StarID@go.inverhills.edu, with your StarID password.
Scholarship submissions are due by Friday, March 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
History of the First-Generation College Student Scholarship
This scholarship started with the creative idea and hard work of a previous Inver Hills student, Annabelle Knowles. Annabelle shared how the scholarship started:
“The first-gen scholarship came from the need to use money that was given to TRIO SSS. At the time, all the advisors were busy and did not have an idea on how to use the money. In a staff meeting, it was asked if there were any suggestions on how to use the money. That is when I suggested an art-based scholarship—no essay, just art.
“I had this idea from my own experience of scholarships as I had never applied for scholarships due to not feeling confident or comfortable with my writing skills. Scholarships felt overwhelming and too much work for only a chance to get the scholarship. Alicia Atwater, my TRIO advisor, was all for this idea.
“I was placed in charge of developing the scholarship from the ground up as a student. This was such a surreal thing to do as a student. I was able to find a way to help other students afford college a little bit easier. I had to create a proposal to explain how the fund would be used and how the scholarship would work. With collaborations with staff and faculty on campus, I developed the question of the scholarship, the grading rubric, the voting system, and I decided how the money was going to be divided amongst the winners.”
Learn more about the First-Generation Scholarship Contest Spring 2026 by contacting:
Han Phung, MA, LPCC
Counselor
Inver Hills Community College
han.phung@inverhills.edu
651-450-3866
