Alliss Educational Foundation Awards $668,145 Scholarship Grant to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Posted: March 12, 2014

Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 12, 2014 - The Charles & Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation has awarded a grant in the amount of $668,145 to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to provide need-based scholarships to students at the seven MnSCU state universities.

“MnSCU colleges and universities currently serve over 100,000 low-income students, more than all other providers of higher education in Minnesota combined,” said Chancellor Steven Rosenstone. “This grant will help ensure that their education is affordable and that they can complete their degrees in a timely fashion. We deeply appreciate this generous grant.”

The state universities that received awards are:

Bemidji State University                                         $50,503
Metropolitan State University                                 $41,431
Minnesota State University, Mankato                     $218,492
Minnesota State University Moorhead                    $73,189
St. Cloud State University                                       $141,305
Southwest Minnesota State University                   $34,825
Winona State University                                         $108,400

Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $350 to $1,100 during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Charles Alliss was one of the first employees of 3M Company and eventually was named general superintendent of factory administration responsible for all 3M manufacturing. He and his wife Ellora created the foundation to provide opportunities for Minnesota’s young people to attend college. Since 1962, the foundation has distributed more than $100 million in scholarships to thousands of Minnesota students.

Media Contacts:

Scott Faust
Bemidji State University
218-755-2986

Diane DeRosier Douglass
Metropolitan State University
651-793-1821

Dan Benson
Minnesota State University, Mankato
507-389-6838

Dave Wahlberg
Minnesota State University Moorhead
218-477-2175

Adam Hammer
St. Cloud State University
320-308-2104

Bill Mulso
Southwest Minnesota State University
507-537-6267

Andrea Mikkelsen
Winona State University
507-457-5369

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities include 24 two-year community, technical, and comprehensive colleges and seven state universities serving more than 430,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.

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