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Hal Thorkilsen Scholarship Program
Deadline to apply: February 17, 2025 3:00 pm CT

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. has established a scholarship program to assist children of employees who plan to continue their education at an accredited, bona fide two– or four–year college, university, or vocational–technical school.

This 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 Hal Thorkilson Scholarship Program must:

  • Dependent* children of full-time U.S., Canadian, or United Kingdom employees of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Employees must have a minimum of one-year continuous full-time employment with the company as of the annual application deadline.
    *Dependent children are defined as natural and legally adopted children or stepchildren living in the employee’s household or primarily supported by the employee.
  • High school seniors or students in their final year of secondary school or graduates who plan to enroll or students who are already enrolled in a full-time, post-secondary course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
  • Be age 26 or under as of the application deadline.

Children of officers (defined as vice presidents, senior vice presidents, group vice presidents, executive vice president and president) and members of the Pension and Savings Committee of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. are ineligible to participate in this program.

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Financial need will be considered in determining the size of the award. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. Authorized annual distribution is estimated at $12,000, depending upon funds available from interest earnings from the Hal Thorkilsen Scholarship Fund. Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

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.

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 any officer or employee of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. play a part in the selection. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

Notification

All applicants will be notified in April.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. Payment is made in August.

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
    • Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
  • Upper secondary school diploma or certificate, if earned (International applicants only).
  • Results of examinations (International applicants only)
  • If necessary, a separate printed Financial Data Form may be submitted in order for one to be completed if parents cannot submit jointly on the electronic application.

    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 an official copy of those test scores separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.

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

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. has partnered with Scholarship America. Selecting the button below will redirect you the Scholarship America Student Hub!

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.