Requirements may vary

• Be enrolled a particular number of hours
• Most require U.S. citizenship or legal permanent resident status (international students are still encouraged to apply)
• Program of study/college specific

Submission Begins:

The application becomes available every year the first week of October.

Deadlines:

High School Seniors:

• December 1st

Undergraduate and Graduate Students:

• February 1st

Send a Thank You Letter

Following up with a Thank You Letter is the next step after receiving a scholarship. Writing a thank you letter allows you to express your gratitude and provides an opportunity to tell your donor how this scholarship will benefit you, make a difference in your life and help you achieve your goals. Your thoughtful words serve to reaffirm why your donor selected you.

Tips for Writing a Thank You Letter

• Allow your enthusiasm and personality to shine through this letter. Share a favorite quote or saying from a mentor, parent, or friend that grounds you and keeps you on track with your goals.
• Be concise and clear and consider having someone proofread for typographical and grammatical errors. Keep your letter to a single page. The UTRGV Writing Center is a wonderful resource if you need help.
• Typewritten letters work well since donors can easily forward them to others. If you prefer a handwritten note, be sure it is legible.
• More tips from US News.

What to Include in Your Thank You Letter

The salutation is a greeting and begins with the donor's title and name. Begin by addressing your donor using a formal salutation: Mrs., Mr., Miss, Dr., If you do not have this information, please address your letter to "Dear Scholarship Donor."

Date

Your name

Your address

Scholarship Office

1201 W. University Drive

Edinburg, Texas 78539-2999

Dear Scholarship Donor,

Here is where you express your gratitude. Begin by introducing yourself and mentioning the name of the scholarship. Include the school or program of study you are pursuing. This section can be 2 to 3 paragraphs. When you are ready to upload the content of your letter to the scholarship portal (instructions found below), you’ll get an opportunity to cut and paste the information you provide in The Body of the Letter and Closing sections.

[First Paragraph: Explain why you are writing this letter. Be sure to identify the scholarship and what school or program you are in at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.]

[Second Paragraph: Tell the donor a little about yourself. You can briefly describe your research, any special programs or student organizations in which you participate, student projects, work experience, leadership experience, etc. You can also briefly write about your goals and future plans after you graduate.]

Demonstrate your gratitude by saying thank you once more for your donor's kind and generous investment in The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and YOU.

[Closing Paragraph: Thank your donor again for the scholarship and let the donor know how much you appreciate his/her generous contribution to your education. Let the donor know you will be a good steward of his/her “investment.”]

Sincerely,

Your name

Your student ID number

Where to Submit Your Thank You Letter

Once you are ready to submit your Thank You letter, log in to the scholarship portal. The scholarship(s) you received will appear in the Submit Thank You Letter section. Proceed by including the content of your letter in the fillable sections provided. If your scholarship is not listed in the scholarship portal and you are not given the opportunity to upload your letter, please attach your Word document and email it to scholarships@utrgv.edu.