Language Scholarships

German (Otmar Drekonja Scholarship) (S. Margretta Nathe Scholarship) |  French  | Chinese | Spanish

The Otmar Drekonja
German Cultural Studies Scholarship

The German Department of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University invites applications to the newly established Otmar Drekonja German Cultural Studies Scholarship. This scholarship was initiated by former students of Dr. Drekonja who are seeking in this way to celebrate and prolong his legacy of international education.

Promising undergraduate students of Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict who have demonstrated a commitment to German Studies in keeping with the enthusiasm of Otmar Drekonja are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Eligibility is restricted to those who have been admitted to the major in German and who will be juniors or seniors in the fall of 2008.

The scholarship will be awarded according to the following criteria:

1. Demonstrated commitment to German Studies including curricular and extra-curricular activities.
2. Aspirations for using German in the future for teaching, graduate studies, or other professional activity in the field of German.
3. If candidates are equal, financial need will be taken into consideration.

The amount of the scholarship for this year is $1,900.

Please apply to the Otmar Drekonja Scholarship Committee as follows:

1. Submit a current transcript of studies.
2. Draft a one-page curriculum vitae, including German-related activities and experiences (in English)
3. Write a formal letter of application describing present involvement in German-Austrian-Swiss study and activities as well as future aspirations, goals, and commitments (300 words, in German). Be aware, as you write this letter, of how you will respond to item #4 below, to avoid simple duplication.
4. Following this section, you will find a brief biographical sketch highlighting the career of Professor Otmar Drekonja for whom this scholarship is named. After reading this sketch write a thoughtful essay in which you reflect on the values which Dr. Drekonja promoted through his inspirational teaching and by his passionate commitment to have his students excel, and tell how you might aspire to incorporate these values in your life (200 words, in German).

Deadline for submitting completed applications is March 28, 2008 at 4 pm. Recipients will be notified by mid-April.
Please note: Applicants to the S. Margretta Nathe Scholarship for German may also apply to the Drekonja Scholarship.

Applications are to be submitted to: The Otmar Drekonja Scholarship Committee, MCL Department, Richarda P15, CSB, attn: Mary Niedenfuer. Documents may be submitted in hard-copy form or as a Microsoft Word email attachment to mniedenfuer@csbsju.edu.

Biographical Sketch of Professor Otmar Drekonja

Otmar Drekonja was a Fulbright grantee at Kent State University during the 1962-63 academic year and initially taught at Saint John’s during the 1963-64 academic year.  After returning to Austria, he was recruited by Saint John’s to teach full time, beginning in 1967; his distinguished teaching career in the Department of Foreign Languages spanned 35 years.  He sparked renewed interest in German studies, teaching all levels in the department and inspiring students by his own intensely obvious love of German and Austrian literature and culture.  A native of the Austrian Lesach Valley, Dr. Drekonja also threw his incomparable energy into directing some fifteen groups, more than 200 students, on study abroad programs in Central Europe, including many semesters of the Salzburg Study Abroad Program which he himself founded in 1977.  Dr. Drekonja’s contacts and keen interest in the former East Germany also allowed students of Saint John’s and Saint Benedict’s to study abroad behind the Iron Curtain and enabled many East German writers and scholars to travel to Minnesota.  Inside and outside the classroom, during the college years and beyond, Professor Drekonja’s untiring and enthusiastic efforts to open his students’ eyes to a wider world have led many of them to careers and relationships involving international cultural exchange.  His distinguished teaching career resonates in the personal and professional lives of generations of students.

Sister Margretta Nathe
Scholarship for German

The German Department of the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University cordially invites you to apply for the Sister Margretta Nathe Scholarship. The scholarship has been established to support the study of German at the College of St. Benedict. Eligibility for the scholarship is limited to students of the College of St. Benedict who have been admitted to (or at minimum, applied for) a major in German and who will be juniors or seniors in the fall of 2008. The scholarship will be awarded according to the following criteria, in order of importance:

1. Academic distinction, particularly in German
2. Financial need, as determined by standard procedures of the college
3. Commitment to the teaching of German, to graduate studies, or to other professional activity within the field of German (to be used as tie-breaker).

Amounts vary from year to year. The amount available this year is $2,280.

Please apply to the S. Margretta Nathe Scholarship Committee as follows:

1.     Submit a current transcript of studies.
2.     Draft a one-page curriculum vitae, including German-related activities and experiences (in English)
3.     Write a formal letter of application describing present involvement in German-Austrian-Swiss study and activities as well as future aspirations, goals, and commitments (300 words, in German).

Deadline for submitting completed applications is March 28, 2008 at 4 pm. Recipients will be notified by mid-April.
Please note: CSB applicants to the Otmar Drekonja Scholarship may also apply to the Nathe Scholarship.

Applications are to be submitted to: The S. Margretta Nathe Scholarship Committee , MCL Department, Richarda P15, CSB, attn: Mary Niedenfuer. Documents may be submitted in hard-copy form or as a Microsoft Word email attachment to mniedenfuer@csbsju.edu.

Dr. & Mrs. Joseph B. Gaida & Family
Scholarship for French

French majors enrolled at the College of Saint Benedict who will be juniors or seniors in the fall of 2008 are eligible to apply for the Dr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Gaida and Family French Scholarship for the academic year 2008/2009. Recipients will be chosen on the basis of scholarship, strength of academic purpose, and financial need (determined by consultation with the Financial Aid Office).

The scholarship amount varies from year to year. The amount available this year is $1950.

Please apply by letter to the Gaida French Scholarship Committee stating your academic purpose (approximately one page, in English). Attach to the letter a one-page Vita in French, which is a short resume highlighting your past activities pertinent to your French studies. Also write a one-page essay in French explaining your studies up to this point, your plans for further study of French, and how you see French studies continuing to be meaningful in your future professional goals. Please include an unofficial copy of your transcripts.

Application deadline is March 28, 2008 at 4 pm. Documents may be submitted either in hard-copy form to the MCLL Department, Gaida Scholarship Committee, Richarda P15, CSB or as a Microsoft Word email attachment to mniedenfuer@csbsju.edu. Selection is made by a committee of faculty members from the French Section of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures.

Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Wang and Sister Telan Hu, O.S.B. Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Margaret Man-Hwa Wang in memory of her parents, Mr. Jung-Chun Wang and Mrs. Jui-Chin Liao Wang, who during their lifetime had contributed much effort to helping needy and promising students by providing scholarship funds to numerous high schools and colleges around the island of Taiwan through the J.C. Wang Foundation.  Inspired by Sister Telan Hu, O.S.B., who has devoted almost all her life introducing Asian Culture to the students in the West, namely at the College of St. Benedict, Margaret thought it an excellent idea to extend her parents’ philanthropy abroad by establishing this scholarship.  This scholarship was established to celebrate Sister Telan’s Golden Jubilee (50 years as a sister) on July 2005. 

Scholarship Purpose:  To assist students with a major or minor in Asian Studies with a concentration in Chinese culture who will ultimately help cultivate and strengthen friendly relations between the people of China and the United States. 

Preference for the scholarship is given to the following students:
1) A student who is an Asian Studies major or minor with a concentration in Chinese Studies and
    a) is a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
    b) is a junior or senior in college
    c) has taken at least 8 credits of Mandarin Chinese language
    d) has at least a 3.5 GPA
    e) is dedicated to the pursuit of interest that will strengthen friendly relations between the U.S. and China
    f)  preference to a student with financial need

2) If no student meets the above criteria, preference should be given to a student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has a GPA of 3.5 and has shown a dedication to the pursuit of interests that will strengthen friendly relations between China and the U.S.  Such interests could include:
  a) A student with an Asian Studies minor;
  b) A student who has completed at least 8 credits of Mandarain Chinese language
  c)  A student who has traveled abroad to China.

3) If there are no students from the College of St. Benedict who qualify under number 1 or 2, the scholarship should be awarded to a student from St. John’s University who meets the criteria under 1 or 2 above.

4) If there are no students who qualify for the above, the scholarship should be awarded to a College of St. Benedict American Asian student who has completed at least one year of study at CSB, has a 3.5 grade point average and who manifests the spirit of service.

The amount available this year is $1460.

Click here for Spanish scholarship opportunities.

The External Scholarship Program at CSB/SJU offers information on currently available scholarship applications, links to scholarship search sites, advice on scholarship hows, whys, and wherefores are all there. Take a few minutes and check in out!

If you have questions about any of these scholarships, please email Mary Niedenfuer or phone 363-5067.