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Marsden Scholarship

The George and Dorothy Marsden Scholarship Fund was established by Mrs. Marsden to help academically promising students from the Inland Northwest maximize their potential at the world’s best colleges and universities. “My intentions would be wholly fulfilled,” she wrote, if “... our young people … go to the great universities of the world as designated Marsden Scholars.” Up to two new Marsden Scholars are named each spring from high school seniors whose permanent legal residence is within the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, and a number of scholarships are renewed.

Applications for 2021 will be open February 1, 2021-March 31, 2021.

How to Apply

Review the Eligibility factors (below)

Download and review the Application Checklist 

When you have prepared everything in the Checklist which applies to you, allow yourself time to carefully complete the application, then click 2020 Application. NOTE:  Forms must be completed on‐line. The application form must be completed in one session; it cannot be saved and re-visited. 

Be sure to send the appropriate links to those who will be providing references and confirm receipt, with a reminder that reference forms must be submitted online by March 31

Submit the completed application by March 31

Awards will be announced in mid-April to early May

Questions can be addressed to the Cathedral secretary

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration an applicant must:

  • Have a permanent legal residence within the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane (the state of Washington east of the Cascades and the state of Idaho north of the Salmon River)
  • Have submitted a completed application on current year online form by March 31
  • Have arranged for all references to be submitted by March 31
  • Be a high school senior

NOTE: You do not have to be a member of an Episcopal church or any faith community

Considerations

Applications are evaluated in their totality, considering:

  • Promise of academic excellence, from grades, scores and/or other factors
  • Potential for success and leadership as evidenced by involvement in school, extracurricular and community activities, work and volunteer experience
  • Academic goals
  • Potential impact of the scholarship on realization of academic goals

FAQ

No. Grades and tests are not the only indicators of academic potential. Most successful applicants have had a cumulative GPA above 3.5 and combined math/reading SAT scores above 1300, but awards have also been made to applicants based on other evidence of potential for academic excellence.

Reference #1 must be your guidance counselor.

Reference #2 should be a teacher, advisor or other school official, or an employer.

Reference #3 should be someone from the community who knows you through some activity outside school.

Apply anyway, noting status on application. Advise the Marsden Committee by email to the Cathedral secretary of any new information as it is received. 

 

In early August, the Cathedral sends the check directly to your school.

Previous Marsden Scholars

2020: Thomas Horstkamp of Pullman High School in Pullman, WA, and Jacob Unruh of Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene, ID

2019: Bryan Fang of Richland High School, and Sarah McKenna of Richland High School

2018: Brienna Buchanan of Hanford High School in Richland, and Solveig Baylor of St. George's School in Spokane

2017: Alex Fang of Hanford High School in Richland, and Max McGougan of St. George’s School in Spokane

2016: Swetha Shutthanandan of Richland High School, and Joseph Winters of Cascade High School

2015: Emily Cieslak of Wenatchee High School, and Abigail Stickney of St. George's School in Spokane 

2014: Philip Howard of Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley, and Alaina Jacobsen of St. George's School in Spokane

2013: Marina DeFrates of North Central High School in Spokane, and Sean Stephens of Hanford High School in Richland

2012: Andrew Schutts of Central Valley High School, and Molly Cole of Mount Spokane High School

2011: Jacob Ecklund of Hanford High School, and Paige Whidbee

2010: Ian Wyant of Chelan High School, and Matthew Philipps of Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane

2009: Kevin Aubol of Ellensburg, and Hayden Heftel of St. George's School in Spokane

2008: Kelley Fisher of Wenatchee, and Benjamin Livingston of Ellensburg

2007: Erin Shaw of Mead, Kayla Shaw of Mead, Ashley Anderson of Ferris High School in Spokane, Mitchell Palmquist of University High School in Spokane Valley

2006: Benjamin Flores of Moscow, Todd Keatts of Pomeroy, Tyler Rauh of Kennewick