2025 MPA Scholarship Application
Thank you for applying for a 2025 MPA scholarship!
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 23.
Please note the following important items:
- Please read the descriptions of the scholarships before applying to make sure you qualify. Descriptions are on the MPA website as well as within each scholarship section.
- You may apply for a maximum of two scholarships. No student will be awarded more than one scholarship.
- All essay answers need to be limited to 250 words.
- There will be two Access to Education scholarships and one of each of the other scholarships awarded as long as the scholarship has at least one applicant. If any scholarships do not have at least one applicant, we will choose another category that had many applicants.
- Each scholarship is for $500, with the amount paid directly to the school or drum corps. The only exception is the Swenson Scholarship which is $2,500.
- The Swenson Scholarship requires a letter of recommendation, so those applying for that scholarship will need that piece to complete the application.
To prepare you to complete the application, here are the questions you will need to answer.
All scholarships:
- Name
- Current MPA group
- Current school you attend
- Briefly list your experience in MPA (what years have you performed and with which groups)
Drum Corps Scholarship (1 recipient, $500). This scholarship is for any current MPA performer OR instructor who is marching with a DCI junior corps in the summer of 2025.
- What drum corps are you marching with this summer?
- How will this scholarship help in your experience in drum corps? (Limit to 250 words)
Jordan Jergenson Memorial Cymbal Scholarship (1 recipient, $500). This scholarship is in memory of Jordan Jergenson, a longtime performer, MPA Board of Directors member, and cymbal instructor within MPA. Jordan leaves a legacy of passion and kindness, and inspired those around him to be not only better musicians but also better people. This scholarship is for any graduating high school senior who is marching cymbals this year.
- What life lessons or life skills have you gained from playing cymbals, and how do you apply those to other areas of your life? (Limit to 250 words)
Future in Music Scholarship (1 recipient, $500). This scholarship is for any graduating senior who is planning on going into music performance OR music education in college.
- What college will you attend, or what colleges are you considering attending?
- What is your planned major, and what are your future plans in this area?
- Why are you pursuing this field? (Limit to 250 words)
Kayla Koranda Memorial Spirit of MPA Scholarship (1 recipient , $500). This scholarship is for any graduating senior who has been positively impacted by MPA and their experience in an MPA group.
- How has MPA and the indoor activity positively impacted your life? (Limit to 250 words)
Access to Education Scholarship (2 recipients, $500 each). This scholarship is for any graduating high school senior and is considered a financial-need-based scholarship for college.
- What college will you attend, or what colleges are you considering attending?
- What is your planned major, and what are your future plans in this area?
- Why is a scholarship important for you to defray the burden of paying for college? (Limit to 250 words)
Swenson Scholarship (1 recipient, $2,500). The David Swenson Foundation Percussion Scholarship is an award granted to those outstanding musicians whose primary instrument is percussion. David Swenson graduated from St. Cloud State University in 1976 with a music education degree. He was a percussionist with multiple goals in music and life, and in 1994 he posthumously established a foundation dedicated to advancing the percussive arts.
- What college will you attend, or what colleges are you considering attending?
- What is your planned major, and what are your future plans in this area?
- What plans do you have to participate in music in the future? This could include ensembles within your college/university or outside ensembles.
- How has being a percussionist shaped your life currently?
- How could you meet the foundation's goal to "advance the percussive arts" in your future?
- Submit a letter of recommendation from someone who has seen you as a percussionist (band director, drumline instructor, private music instructor, etc.). We would recommend to not have a relative fill out this letter.