Scholarship Thank You
A well-written thank you letter, preferably typed, conveys your appreciation to scholarship donors of the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Expressing your gratitude shows each donor that their scholarship is making an impact. In fact, receiving thank you letters can make the difference when deciding to continue their scholarship support to students for years to come.
Where can I get the contact name for my letter and where should I send it?
The scholarship award letter you received from the College of Education and Human Sciences contained the donor name for your thank you letter. The University of Nebraska Foundation policy requires thank you letters be returned to the College. A postage-paid business reply envelope preaddressed to CEHS is provided with your award letter.
What Should I Include in my Thank You Letter?
• The donor’s name (spelled correctly!)
• Reference the name of the scholarship that you have received
• Your name and year in school
• Your major and academic interests
• How has this scholarship helped you?
• What does having a scholarship mean to you personally?
• Why did you choose CEHS and/or UN-L?
• THANK THEM
Other Ideas to Include:
• Academic and/or career goals
• Leadership/volunteer experiences while attending UN-L
• Extracurricular activities or interests
• Hometown and/or family information
Remember, a well-written thank you letter reflects positively on you, the College of Education and Human Sciences and UN-L. A proper thank you note should include the following parts:
1. Greet your Donor
Please type your letters so they can be easily read by any of our donors. If you are not able to type the letter, blue or black ink is preferred but ONLY if you have neat, legible handwriting.
2. Express your appreciation
Write in the present tense as if you are speaking to the donor. Thank them for their generosity instead of mentioning the amount of your scholarship award.
3. Discuss the scholarship
Share how the scholarship will help you continue your education. Be general, rather than specific, about how you will use the scholarship. Some donors have indicated their scholarship is for tuition only while others may also allow for books, etc.
4. Thank the Donor
It is important to express your appreciation and gratefulness. It is not excessive to say thank you both at the beginning and again at the end!
5. Closing
Use whatever closing is most comfortable for you. While “With appreciation,” may work for some students, “Sincerely,” is perfectly acceptable as well. Please be sure to sign your name on the thank you. This small step can make a huge difference to donors!
Here is an example thank you note:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Donor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your dedication and support to the University of Nebraska. I am currently a junior at UNL majoring in math education. I am a member of Kappa Delta sorority on campus, and also participate in Student Alumni Board, Golden Key Honor Society and have been a Cather Circle participant for two years. The scholarship you provided me with this semester has enabled me to accomplish all of these activities while enjoying the UNL experience. Once again, thank you for your generous gift to my education and for your continuing support to the University of Nebraska.
Sincerely,
(be sure to sign your letter here)
Sincere Student (typed or printed neatly below your signature)
