Families of Fatally Injured Montana Workers Scholarship

Montana State Fund has created a scholarship program to assist children and spouses of workers who have been fatally injured in a work-related accident. While nothing can replace the untimely loss of a loved one, it is our hope that these awards for higher education may help fulfill the aspirations of those whose lives have been disrupted as a result of a workplace death of a spouse or parent.

Recognizing that education is the key to Montana’s future, MSF wishes to further serve the employers and employees of Montana by providing scholarship opportunities for education and training programs for spouses and dependents. Montana State Fund plays a unique and important role in Montana. As a public entity, we acknowledge the obligation we have to the citizens of our state and believe this scholarship program allows us to provide an additional benefit for those who are most affected by such a significant loss.

Scholarship Application

Scholarship Information

After the initial award year, your scholarship of $2,000 to attend a 2-year or 4-year college may be available for up to three more consecutive years provided funding for this program continues and you maintain the eligibility requirements, with a maximum cumulative award of $8,000. Funds will be dispersed to the institution and distributed to the student’s account.

Scholarship funds will be used for the recipient’s “cost of education” or “cost of attendance” at an accredited institution of higher education or approved program. They are not specifically limited to tuition and fees, and may be used by the student’s family to cover its expected family contribution as determined by federal calculations or meeting the student’s educational costs. The scholarship may only be used for students enrolled in an undergraduate program of study. If there is a break in attendance, the recipient must reapply. Any previously used eligibility will be applied toward the remaining eligibility at the time of reapplication. Recipients must use their eligibility within 6 years of the initial award year.

Eligibility

  • Scholarship recipients must be the spouse or dependents (natural or adopted children) of a worker fatally injured on or after July 1, 1990, in a compensable industrial accident during the course and scope of employment with an employer insured by MSF at the time of the accident. 
  • Participants need not be a resident of Montana at the time of application.
  • Applicants must provide documentation as proof of eligibility for the program. Documentation can include a marriage license, adoption papers, or birth certificate.
  • If the spouse was divorced from the insured at the time of the accident, the ex-spouse is not eligible to apply. If the legal spouse has remarried after the date of the accident, the spouse remains eligible. 
  • Applicants must be seeking a degree or certificate in a 2-year or 4-year undergraduate program at an accredited institution of higher education or approved program.
  • Applicants must not have already received or been awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or similar degree.
  • After the initial award year, your scholarship of $2,000 to attend a 2-year or 4-year college, or approved program, may be available for up to three more consecutive years provided funding for this program continues and you maintain the following eligibility requirements:
    1. Meet satisfactory academic progress requirements. The student must maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain eligible for the scholarship. OCHE/Student Financial Services will obtain documentation from your school showing satisfactory academic progress.
    2. Complete 6 credits or more per semester.
    3. Meet enrollment standards by being admitted, enrolled and classified as an undergraduate student. Please note that your scholarship will be terminated if you fail to enroll within 180 days of scholarship award, or if you drop out of college.

Application Process

Interested individuals are required to complete the Scholarship Application. The completed application, along with the applicant’s official high school or college transcript showing GPA should be submitted to:

For applicants of a 2-year or 4-year accredited institution:
P.O. Box 203101
Helena, MT 59620-3101
mtscholarships@montana.edu

For applicants of other career programs (ex: cosmetology, lineman, trucking, etc.):
P.O. Box 4759
Helena, MT 59604-4759
rnaylor@mt.gov

All application materials should be submitted without report covers, loose-leaf binders or plastic sheet protectors. The applicant is responsible for assuring all materials are properly filled out, signed, and received in order to be considered.