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GIVING

#GivingTuesday

$55,856 raised for #GivingTuesday 2022!

Updated December 6, 2022

Finlandia University alumni and friends have donated over $50,000 toward student scholarships during FinnU’s sixth annual Giving Tuesday fundraiser, and donations are still coming in! So far, the total raised is $55,856, including an anonymous contribution of $10,000 kicking off the event.

Thank you to all who supported student scholarships this Giving Tuesday season!

MISSED GIVING TUESDAY? CLICK HERE TO MAKE A GIFT!

NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

Rise Together Scholarship

The Rise Together Scholarship is a need-based scholarship that, when combined with federal and state scholarships and grants, covers a student’s entire tuition costs and aligns with Finlandia’s mission of providing affordable higher education to all. The Rise Together Scholarship can be applied to the first two years of study at Finlandia. After the completion of 56 credit hours and/or an associate’s degree, students can easily transfer into a bachelor’s degree program and become eligible for the Yooper or Sisu Finnish Strong Transfer Scholarship, which can be renewed on an annual basis.

The Impact of Scholarship Support

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Traditional Scholarships

With our all-new scholarship calculator, streamlined scholarship packages, a plethora of scholarship add-ons and a financial aid team that goes above and beyond to help each student, Finlandia strives to make higher education affordable for all.

At Finlandia University, our vision is to advance expansive learning that best prepares graduates for the 21st-century workplace and world. We believe students excel and thrive when learning in an environment that deliberately engages them as whole human beings — mind, heart and body — that advances expansive learning, and fosters enduring positive change in how they think, act and feel in matters of the self, others and the wider world. Finlandia’s vision for expansive learning is served by our commitments to deliver human-centered higher education that is relationship-driven, holistic and transformative.

With your help, we can ensure the fulfillment of Finlandia University’s mission, together.

Finnish Strong Transfer Scholarships

Transfer students come with certain benefits to our school: They’re usually extremely academically prepared, they’re motivated to make things happen, and they graduate at higher rates. Because of that, we’ve worked hard to remove as many barriers as we possibly can, and one of those is a scholarship that the vast majority of our transfer students will be eligible for.

Scholarship Add-Ons

Scholarship add-on opportunities combine with a student’s base scholarship package to make a high-quality education in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula even more affordable, including:

  • $1,000 FAMILY / LEGACY
  • $1,000 CHURCH MATCHING SCHOLARSHIP
  • $1,000 NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL SCHOLARSHIP
  • $1,500 AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP
  • $1,000 HOUSING GRANT
  • $1,000 EARLY COMMITMENT
  • $1,000 RIKU MASCOT SCHOLARSHIP

ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

In contrast to the total payout policy used for annual funds, endowed funds limit spending to a portion of the investment return. Therefore, the principal (your gift) can be invested in longer-term, higher-yielding assets with the objective of providing growth and a hedge against inflation.

At Finlandia University:

  • Virginia Fund Scholarship: awarded in memory of Mrs. Richard R. Smith to a freshman woman who plans to continue as a student at Finlandia for the 2022-23 academic year. The Virginia Fund Scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic achievement and overall contribution to campus life.
  • Philip and Loret Ruppe Community Service Scholarship: comes as a result of a gift from the Ruppe family to commemorate the service of former Congressman Phil Ruppe, a Houghton native, and his late wife, Loret Ruppe, who served as head of the Peace Corps and as Ambassador to Norway. The scholarship is awarded to two students annually for their outstanding volunteer efforts and service to the college campus and the local community.
  • Kenneth & Lois Seaton Scholarship: awarded to a student who is a continuing junior or senior in a bachelor’s degree program and is a Copper Country resident. The student receiving this award demonstrates high personal and scholastic standards.
  • David Lauren Jokela Endowed Memorial Scholarship: awarded to a student of Finnish background from the Copper Country. The recipients of this scholarship will be returning with a minimum of sophomore standing and must show leadership, service to others, a caring attitude, and sisu.
  • Samuel Westerman Scholarship for Nursing: awarded to upper-level nursing students from the Upper Peninsula who will be returning full-time to Finlandia in the following fall semester. The recipients must demonstrate financial need, be active in volunteer service to the university or community and be in good academic standing.
  • Sisu Award: given to graduating students who have shown courage, fortitude and perseverance in overcoming hardship to achieve academic and personal success.
Giving Tuesday 2022 - Student Madelyn Waterman

Madelyn Waterman, Class of 2023, Marketing and Graphic Design

Kailee Laplander, B.A. Liberal Studies, Class of 2012 Executive Assistant to the President & Advancement at Finlandia University

“As a first-generation student, I grabbed every scholarship I could! But now I see how every dollar matters, and how each donor affects a student’s life. A donor’s generosity comes from such a pure place to help a student in the most confusing time of their life. There aren’t enough words of gratitude for the donors who participated in my journey without knowing me, but I thank you and you have changed my life.”

– Kailee Laplander, B.A. Liberal Studies, Class of 2012
Executive Assistant to the President & Advancement at Finlandia University


GIVING TUESDAY IN THE NEWS

Photo of Students Raising Their Hands Together In The Air
FinnU removes barriers to free tuition scholarship

January 10, 2023

University relaxes requirements, extends deadline and opens Rise Together Scholarship to bachelor degree-seeking students

Finlandia University will build on its boldest expression of affordability by easing eligibility requirements for the Rise Together Free Full Tuition Scholarship. 

Now applicable to all four years of tuition at Finlandia, the Rise Together Scholarship will allow bachelor’s degree-seeking students with a minimum GPA of 2.25 to apply. Other significant changes include a May 1 deadline extension for filing the FAFSA and the removal of the Tuition […] Read More

Scholarship Table for Campus News
Tuition made simple: Streamlining affordability

January 04, 2023

Finlandia announces scholarship overhaul ahead of spring 2023 semester

Finlandia University will build on its commitment to providing affordable higher education by awarding newly introduced scholarship packages to incoming spring 2023 students. Taking steps to simplify the cost of attendance further, Finlandia’s new Scholarship Calculator acts as a fast and easy-to-use tool for all.

Within two to six questions, the calculator provides students with the minimum scholarship amount they will receive from Finlandia University. Minimum scholarships are then stackable […] Read More

Giving Tuesday Graphic with Finlandia University Logo
Finlandia University raises $50K for student scholarships

December 05, 2022

Finlandia University alumni and friends donated over $50,000 toward student scholarships during FinnU’s sixth annual Giving Tuesday fundraiser in November. The official total raised was $52,356, including an anonymous contribution of $10,000 kicking off the event.

Finlandia President Tim Pinnow praised the efforts of those who supported the cause, which has become an important FinnU tradition as 100 percent of full-time domestic students currently receive financial aid. 

“This incredible response to the Giving Tuesday event will help Finlandia continue to focus on […] Read More

Faculty and Staff

Kailee Laplander

Executive Assistant to the President & Advancement Office

kailee.laplander@finlandia.edu
FinnU will not enroll students for 2023-2024Learn More
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