Scholarships for the Youth of St. Mary’s
Through the generosity and foresight of members of St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, scholarship funds were established in the mid-20th century to support the young people of the Cathedral and their desire to seek post secondary education opportunities at universities and Orthodox seminaries.
Interested in establishing a new scholarship for the benefit of students at St. Mary's? Contact us
The followship scholarships are available on an annual basis for members of St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral.
Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of the members and friends of St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral.
If you would like to make a charitable donation ensuring these scholarship can support the education of future generations, click here.
The Father John Dzubay Scholarship
The Father John Dzubay Memorial Scholarship Fund is named in honor of the Archpriest John Dzubay, who served the St. Mary's Cathedral as priest and choir director for 45 years.
Funds for the scholarship benefit parishioners of St. Mary’s Cathedral who are enrolled full-time at one of the three seminaries of the Orthodox Church in America, in a course of study leading to ordination in the priesthood or to qualification as an Orthodox Christian choir director.
The scholarship accepts contributions from parishioners and friends of the cathedral who want to support the education of church leaders. Funds in the Scholarship Account are conservatively invested and maintained to provide financial assistance in the form of scholarships.
This scholarship is awarded each year in the fall. The number of scholarships awarded each year vary depending on the amount available in the scholarship fund. Funds for the scholarship are forwarded directly to the seminary where the recipient is enrolled.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
-
The applicant must be a member in good standing of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, and must have been a member for at least one year immediately preceding receipt of the scholarship.
-
The basis of service to the church.
-
Character and leadership qualities, and academic achievement.
-
The applicant must be entering or currently enrolled at a canonical Orthodox seminary of the Orthodox Church in America.
Service to the Church is defined as any type of stewardship performed in the church, such as participation in activities and organizations, volunteering service for the betterment of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, its members, its community, and the Orthodox Church in America.
Character and Leadership Qualities include moral character, good citizenship, and leadership potential that may have been demonstrated in the classrom, in extra-curricular activities, at work, in the church, or in the community.
Academic Achievement is defined as an applicant's having achieved grades in school or scores on standardized tests which show promise of success in the selected seminary. In the case of graduate students, one recommendation from a person who has worked with the applicant in his/her field of study will suffice.
Scholarship applicants / recipients are individuals who have been working with St. Mary's Dean as they prayerfully consider applying to entry into seminary. Their eligibility for the Father John Dzubay Scholarship is done in consultation with the Dean, as he will be instrumental in the applicant's application to attend seminary.
Questions
Please contact Steve Tomczyk, chair of the Father John Dzubay Scholarship Committee
The Samanisky Scholarship
The Samanisky Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of Greg and Marie Samanisky, long-time members of the Cathedral.
This scholarship is awarded each year in the fall to eligible members of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in the amount of $1,000. The number of scholarships awarded each year vary depending on the amount available in the scholarship fund. The selection of recipients is determined by educators not associated with the Cathedral.
Applications are evaluated on the basis of:
-
Service to the Church
Defined as any type of stewardship performed for the church, such as participation in activities and organizations and volunteering services for the betterment of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, it's members, it's community and the Orthodox Church in America; -
Character and Leadership
Qualities include good character, good citizenship, and leadership potential that may have been demonstrated in the classroom, in extra-curricular activities, at work, in the church and in the community, and -
Scholarship or Academic Achievement
Defined and an applicant's having achieved scores or grades in school and on standardized tests which show promise of success in accredited school. In the case of graduate students, one recommendation from a person who has worked with the applicant in his/her field of study will suffice.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
-
The applicant must be entering or currently enrolled in a post-secondary program.
-
He or she must have been accepted for enrollment as a full-time student in an institution of higher learning such as an accredited college, university, community college, business college, industrial, technical, trade or medical school, or an Orthodox seminary.
-
The candidate must be a member or the child of a member of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral of Minneapolis as of the deadline for the application.
-
Eligible non-previous recipients will always be given priority to receive the scholarship. If only previous recipients apply, then the committee may choose a recipient out of eligible applicants.
Scholarship applications are available in the parish center, outside the church office on the second floor, and at this link:
The application process for the 2027-2028 school year is not yet open.
Completed applications, transcripts, and recommendations must be postmarked and sent to:
Samanisky Scholarship Committee
c/o St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral
1701 5th Street NE
Minneapolis MN 55413
Questions
Please contact Alexa Collodora or at 612-226-7044
APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JUNE 30 BEFORE THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.
The Irving T. and Katherine Borris-Hansen Scholarship
The Irving T. and Katherine Borris-Hansen Scholarship is named in honor of two long-time members of the Cathedral whose bequest allows the Cathedral to provide these scholarships to students in our parish community.
Scholarships are awarded annually in the fall to eligible members of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral. Scholarships range in the amount of $500-1,500.
Orthodox students who fit one of categories indicated below are invited to submit an application:
-
High school graduate enrolling in a college or university
-
High school student enrolling in a vocational or technical school
-
Current college or university student
-
Current vocational or technical school student
-
Graduate or advanced degree (e.g. law or medicine)
-
Adult Education (continuing education, professional development)
Applications will be considered in combination with others in the same educational category, and points will be awarded based on academic grades, merit, and the short essays submitted with the application. Criteria used to evaluate each application include:
-
Orthodox church membership
-
Stewardship
-
Desire to learn
-
Academic achievement
-
Essay responses which outline the applicant's motivation for continuing in a post-secondary education program
-
The applicant's vision for using their education to contribute to the building-up of the Orthodox Church in their local community
Scholarships awarded are intended to cover tuition, books, and student fees for the subsequent school year.
Applications and information about the Irving and Katherine Borris-Hansen Scholarship are available at this link:
The application process for the 2027-2028 school year is not yet open.
Applications must include transcripts and be mailed and postmarked no later than the first Monday of June each year:
Borris-Hansen Scholarship Committee
c/o St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral
1701 5th Street NE
Minneapolis MN 55413
Questions
Please contact Walter Grivna, chair of the Borris-Hansen Scholarship Committee
APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY THE FIRST MONDAY OF JUNE BEFORE THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.
Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA) Scholarships
The Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA) provides scholarship opportunities for members of the national organization who are entering freshman or enrolled in undergraduate studies in a two-year, four-year, certificate-granting institution or Orthodox seminary. Graduate students and military academy students are also eligible.
Information about the scholarships and educational financial aid programs are available on their website.
