Main header image

The application program will be available again in September 2023. Please return then to view the updated Eligibility and Awards for the 2021 academic year! If you are an applicant who would like to discover more scholarship opportunities you might qualify for, please continue to the Scholarship America Hub and sign up!

James and Erma Cabak Scholarship Program
Application status: Closed

James and Erma Cabak have established a scholarship program to assist graduates of high schools in Pine or Clearwater County in Minnesota. Awards are to assist students who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs.

The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Applicants to the James and Erma Cabak Scholarship Program must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be a current senior, or graduate of, a high school in Pine County or Clearwater County in Minnesota
  • Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in Minnesota for the entire upcoming academic year
  • Be pursuing a Business, STEM, or Medical-related degree
  • Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)

Awards

The authorized distribution for awards for the 2023-24 academic year is $15,000.

Awards will be granted as follows:

  • One (1) award of $10,000 will be granted to the top applicant attending a four-year college or university in Minnesota. This award may be renewable up to three (3) additional years or until a bachelor’s or master’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first*.
  • One (1) award of $5,000 will be granted to the top applicant attending a two-year college or vocational-technical school in Minnesota. This award may be renewable up to one (1) additional year or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first**.

Renewal is contingent upon meeting satisfactory academic performance in a full-time course of study that meets the original eligibility criteria of the program.

*If a recipient completes their bachelor’s degree prior to renewing their award three (3) additional years and are immediately pursuing a graduate degree, they may continue to renew their award for graduate studies.

**Recipients initially attending a two-year college or vocational-technical school may be eligible to renew their award up to a maximum of three (3) years provided they immediately continue their education at a four-year school in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

The dollar amount of the original awards will remain the same for renewal.

Awards are for undergraduate and graduate study only.

Notification

All applicants will be notified in January.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of James and Erma Cabak. Payment is made in August.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • An online recommendation

Financial need is also considered. Financial need, as calculated by Scholarship America, must be demonstrated for the student to receive an award.

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does the sponsor play a part in the selection.

Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.


As part of your application, you must upload the following:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

    NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.

    • A copy of the most recently filed IRS FORM 1040 used to complete the financial section of the application.

    One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than November 17, 2022 3:00 pm Central Time.

    Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.

James and Erma Cabak have partnered with Scholarship America. Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address provided below in the footer as safe senders in your email contact list.