Minnesota Association of Townships announces 2022 Scholarship Program for high school juniors

The Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) is proud to announce its 2022 Scholarship Program, which will award up to five $2,000 scholarships to high school juniors. All students currently enrolled in 11th grade and attending a Minnesota public, private, or parochial school, or a home-study program, are eligible to apply for this program. Since its inception in 2001, the MAT Scholarship Program has had over 2,000 submissions and 92 winners.

Applicants should submit a written essay using critical thinking on the topic of promoting awareness of township government by May 1, 2022. Winners will be chosen by an independent panel of judges and will be notified in August 2022. They will also be invited to attend MAT’s annual conference in October 2022.

The 2022 essay question is, “The Minnesota Association of Townships has the responsibility to promote public understanding of the heritage and future of township government and its role in the state and federal systems. What are some ways that MAT could promote awareness of township government and inspire township residents and boards to become involved?”

For more information and application details, please call the MAT offices at (800) 228-0296 or visit http://www.mntownships.org/about/scholarship-program.

“The MAT Scholarship Program has made a real difference for our recipients and has also been an opportunity to learn about township government, which embodies the values of ‘grassroots government’ where local citizens directly participate. We encourage as many high school juniors as possible to apply, whether they are from rural areas or urban cities,” said MAT Executive Director Jeff Krueger.

There are approximately 914,000 township residents in 1,780 townships in Minnesota. Townships exist in every area of the state, including the metropolitan area. Some, with populations of more than 1,000, function in much the same way as a small city. While many townships remain rural agricultural centers, others host a variety of residential, light commercial, and industrial development.

The Minnesota Association of Townships is a non-profit corporation representing Minnesota townships. Its goals are educational and charitable, promoting an understanding of the history of townships and being a voice for its roughly 9,000 officers. It regularly conducts research and educational programs designed to foster efficient and economical town governmental services and acts as a liaison between township officers and other local government officials to encourage sustained cooperation.