Missoula Community Foundation Scholarship Program  

2025-2026 APPLICATION GUIDELINES  

DEADLINE: March 31, 2026 - 11:59 PM   

The Missoula Community Foundation Scholarship Program is designed to provide assistance to students from Missoula-area high schools who will attend post-secondary schools. Students who are applying for these scholarships must attend a higher-education institution in Montana OR a WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange) school.

General Scholarship        

A total of five, $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. One student from each of the following schools will be awarded a scholarship: 

• Big Sky
• Frenchtown
• Hellgate
• Seeley-Swan
• Sentinel 

* Willard students are encouraged to apply and should complete the question "what is your home high school"

Diversity Scholarship        

Our Diversity Scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to one student that identifies with an underrepresented community and attends an MCPS high school (listed above). 

• Applicants who are not chosen for the Diversity Scholarship will automatically be entered into the General Scholarship pool based on their high school.   

Students who demonstrate the following are encouraged to apply:

• Financial Need
• Determination
• Perseverance
• Commitment

What to Expect in the Application

This application is designed to help our review committee get to know each applicant and contains 3 major sections:

• Personal Information
• School Demographics
• Essay Questions   

For the essay portion of the application, you can choose to submit your answers in written, audio, or video format.

Scholarship funds will be disbursed directly to the post-secondary institution and will be split into two installments -- $500 for Fall Semester and $500 for Spring Semester. Students are required to submit proof of enrollment and registration before scholarships are paid out.

Please contact your school counselor with any questions.      

You may also contact the Missoula Community Foundation; info@missoulacommunityfoundation.org; 406) 926-2846.

Lorilee Evans-Lynn Memorial Scholarship

Missoula Community Foundation Scholarship Program       

2025-2026 APPLICATION GUIDELINES   

DEADLINE:  March 31, 2026 - 11:59 PM         

The Lorilee Evans-Lynn Memorial Scholarship is an annual scholarship, administered through the Missoula Community Foundation, to support graduating seniors at Big Sky High School who have a passion for the creative arts and are pursuing secondary education in that field. 

This scholarship fund was established to honor Lorilee Evans-Lynn, the long-time advisor of Aerie Big Sky and the founder/advisor of Aerie International.  Aerie International includes an award winning literary magazine that is published by the students at Big Sky High School in Missoula, Montana. In addition, Aerie international showcases art from students around the world and Aerie Big Sky features work from local students.

Preference will be given to students who have participated in the Aerie Program and whose passion is writing/poetry.  

This is not a needs-based scholarship.  

Scholarship Amount : One $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to an applicant from Big Sky High School. 

Additional Criteria

The applicant must meet the following criteria in order to be considered.

• Planning to be enrolled as a full-time student in any college or university located in the United States
• Graduating from Big Sky High School 
• Majoring in literary arts (writing, drama, poetry), performing arts (dance, music, theater) or visual arts (film, painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography)
• Preference will be given to Aerie students 

 What to Expect in the Application 

This application is designed to help our review committee get to know each applicant. The goal of the application is to provide support to a student who demonstrates the following:   

• Passion for the Arts
• Commitment to Community and Collaboration           

The application contains 4 major sections:   

• Personal Information
• School Demographics
• Essay Questions
• Upload link to submit digital media (PDF/JPEG/Video, etc...) showcasing your art

For the essay portion of the application, you can choose to submit your answers in written, audio, or video format. 

Scholarship funds will be disbursed directly to the post-secondary institution, in one installment which will be split between first year semesters. Students will be required to submit proof of enrollment and registration before the scholarship is paid out.   

Please contact your school counselor with any questions. Or contact the Missoula Community Foundation at: info@missoulacommunityfoundation.org or (406) 926-2846.