Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Annexstad Family Foundation?

The Foundation was established by Al Annexstad, Chairman of Minnesota-based Federated Insurance Companies, and his wife Cathy.  Through the Foundation, the Annexstads and their family wish to provide financial support for higher education to deserving students who have been mentored through a participating Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

What does the scholarship provide?

The amount of the scholarship will be based upon the individual financial circumstance of the student and the availability of resources from the Annexstad Family Foundation Scholarship.  In partnering with participating colleges and universities, the mission of the Annexstad Family Foundation is to assure funds are provided to meet the students' full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, books, and standard personalized expenses).  Assuming continued good standing and demonstrated financial need, the scholarship will be renewed annually by the institution for three additional years as the student pursues a bachelors degree.

Who is a typical Annexstad scholar?

• A citizen of the United States
• A former little in a participating Big Brothers Big Sisters program who was matched with a Big for a minimum of 18 months and whose life has been positively affected by the experience
• A student who performed well in high school in a college readiness program having earned a GPA of 2.75 or better
• A student who achieved, as a minimum, the national average composite score on the ACT or SAT college entrance exam
• A student whose academic performance in high school, and later in college, has earned merit-based financial aid from the institution
• A student who presents significant financial need (little or no Expected Family Contribution) as determined by FAFSA reporting (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
• A student who has been admitted in good standing at a participating college or university and who remains enrolled full-time and on track to graduate in four years

How does one apply?

The student must first apply for admission to a participating institution.  It is important to take note of any specific timelines for admission and financial aid awards set forth by each institution.

Contact your participating Big Brothers Big Sisters agency to receive an application packet for the Annexstad Family Foundation Scholarship program.

Completed scholarship applications should be submitted to the participating Big Brothers Big Sisters agency by February 28th in the year which the student plans to enroll in college in the fall.

Scholarship applications will then be submitted by the Foundation to the Financial Aid office at the institution in which the student has applied for admission.

All required financial documents must be submitted to the institution as soon as possible after February 1st.

How will the selection be made?

The institution works with the Foundation to award scholarships to applicants who best meet the guidelines outlined above. All applicants will be notified by the institution in the Spring/Summer of the year in which they have enrolled.

Recent Recipients Named to Recieve the Annexstad Family Foundation Scholarship

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota is proud to announce that four area youth will receive four-year college scholarships through the generosity of the Annexstad Family Foundation in partnership with Crown College, St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. 

The Annexstad Family Foundation provides financial support for youth who have been served by the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and wish to pursue an undergraduate degree as free from debt as possible at one of forty-five selected colleges and universities in Minnesota and across the nation.  In benefitting from a formative mentoring experience, Annexstad scholars demonstrate high moral character, personal resilience and academic achievement worthy of a college experience.  
 
The 2011 scholarship recipients are Skye Bonati, Foley High School senior who will be attending Crown College; Tasha Walberg, Tech High School senior, who will be attending St. Cloud State University; Sienna Santiago-Wiechman, Sauk Rapids-Rice High School senior, who will be attending St. Cloud State University; and Jessica Parnow, a senior at Zimmerman High School who will be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

It is an honor for Big Brothers Big Sisters to be associated with such a generous and philanthropic organization as the Annexstad Family Foundation through which we can continue to impact the lives of young people and build the future of our communities.
 
We at Big Brothers Big Sisters are very proud of Skye, Tasha, Sienna and Jessica and we wish them well with their college plans.
 

Local Annexstad Scholars Graduate from College

Congratulations to Ryan Goman, Melissa Swanson, Krystal Kassahn and Kim Long, former Littles from our agency.  Ryan, Melissa and Krystal graduated from St. Cloud State University and Kim from the University of Minnesota.  All graduated from college through the generosity of the Annexstad Family Foundation Scholarship Program. Ryan and Melissa graduated with a degree in Social Work, Krystal with a degree in Travel and Tourism and Kim with a degree in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature. Everyone at Big Brothers Big Sisters is very proud of these former “Littles” and wish them well in their future endeavors.