Student Funding

Betty Rendel Scholarship– In September 1995, the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) created this scholarship in honor of NFRW Past President Betty Rendel’s extraordinary leadership skills and dedication to the Republican Party in both her home state of Indiana and at the national level. Three annual scholarships of $1000 are awarded to undergraduates who are majoring in political science, government, or economics, and who have successfully completed at least two years of college coursework. The recipients are chosen from applicants from across the nation.

Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) Scholarship– An annual scholarship to assist students who are interested in attending college, technical college, or other training courses to study renewable energy, energy efficiency, or sustainable living topics. 

Phillips Scholars Program – This program supports potential leaders with outstanding academic credentials who intend to dedicate a portion of their lives to community service. Five competitively selected Phillips Scholars are eligible to receive a $6,000 junior-year scholarship, a $4,000 summer award to support the development and implementation of a self-designed service project to address unmet needs in Minnesota communities, $500 from the project resource funding and a $6,000 senior-year scholarship contingent on the successful completion of the summer project.

The John Brandl Scholars program celebrates Saint John’s alumnus John E. Brandl and his lifelong commitment to mentorship and scholarship in higher education, public policy, and politics.

The endowment funds summer internships in public policy and leadership development activities such as conferences and trainings. These internships will range from local to international policy arenas, reflecting Dr. Brandl’s diverse career and CSB+SJU’s commitment to ethical leadership and the common good.

Brandl Scholars receive $5,000, with the option to apply for an additional $5,000. The summer stipends support summer internships anywhere in the world and offer select invitations to McCarthy Center events, as well as mini-grants to cover travel or other expenses related to civic or scholarly engagement. Students will work full-time for approximately 10 weeks, depending on the needs of their internship site. Students may elect to earn credits but will have to pay for these and will be assessed on an individual basis. Graduating seniors are not eligible.

2025 Brandl Scholars

John E. Brandl

“John Brandl’s accomplishments as educator, legislator and civic leader serve as a model for all of us,” said Dan Whalen ’70. “I can think of no better way to honor him than to encourage today’s students to learn from his example through the John Brandl Scholars program.”

Dan and Katharine Whalen have designated $1 million from their gift to the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic Engagement to endow the John Brandl Scholars program.

Dan and Katharine Whalen have designated $1 million from their gift to the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic Engagement to endow the John Brandl Scholars program.

John E. Brandl is a 1959 graduate of Saint John’s. The John Brandl Scholars program celebrates Brandl’s lifelong commitment to mentorship and scholarship in higher education, public policy and politics. The endowment will fund summer public policy research projects conducted by students and faculty. These collaborative research projects will range from local to international policy arenas, reflecting Dr. Brandl’s diverse career and CSB/SJU’s commitment to ethical leadership and the common good. The Brandl Scholars will participate in a broad range of experiential learning opportunities under close faculty mentorship.

Brandl  graduated cum laude from Saint John’s and earned master’s and doctorate degrees from Harvard University. He was Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Saint John’s University and professor and former dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Brandl held positions at the federal level in the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Economic Opportunity, the Economic Development Administration, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary, U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He served in the Minnesota Legislature for 12 years. In addition to faculty positions at alma maters Saint John’s University and Harvard University, he held teaching positions at Boston College, the University of Wisconsin, the University of the Philippines and the University of Sydney. He served as president of several national and regional groups and received many civic honors and awards. Brandl was the author of numerous books, monographs, articles and reviews.

“Saint John’s is like home to me.” John Brandl when asked about the impact that Saint John’s had on him. 

To learn more about John Brandl in his own words read this interview from 1994. 

Saint John’s welcomes contributions to the John Brandl Scholars endowment. Please contact Rob Culligan at 320.363.3388 or [email protected].

Scholarship Purpose:

The John E. Robson Scholarship for Students of Public Policy was established in 2002 by Margaret Zuehlke Robson in memory of her husband, John. John’s life was a model of personal political engagement—the cornerstone of citizenship. Having served under four Presidents of the United States and having been enmeshed in many aspects of public policy, this scholarship serves as a legacy of John’s life’s work. It is hoped this scholarship will continue to inspire students at the College of Saint Benedict to become involved in public policy in order to produce societal change. 

Scholarship Criteria:

Eligible applicants must be current College of Saint Benedict sophomores or juniors with a significant interest in economics, sociology, or political science. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on the following:      

1. Engagement in policy issues, domestic or international, and in political activities through research, internships, jobs, volunteering, and campus activities.
2. Passion and dedication to making social change.

For additional information on this scholarship, contact Dr. Matt Lindstrom, Director of the McCarthy Center.

Scholarship Amount:

The Selection Committee will award scholarships each year, valuing up to $5,000 per scholarship. The scholarship is for one year. Previous recipients of the Robson Scholarship may re-apply for one additional year but will need to submit a new application form.

Application Deadline: 

2026-2027 Robson Scholarship Applications will be due in late March to early April 2026. Stay Tuned!

Materials included in a complete application includes (see application for additional information about each item):

A statement on civic engagement and social change (maximum of 500 words)

• Examine a significant public policy issue or problem at the local, state, national, or international level. The statement needs to define the problem, propose and defend proposed solutions, and identify major obstacles to implementing the solution. Provide quantitative and qualitative data to describe the policy issue and to support your recommendations. A bibliography in APA or Chicago style is required.

Unofficial transcript

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Applying for Funding through the McCarthy Center

All CSB+SJU students may request funding through the McCarthy Center to support professional development, academic, or civic engagement opportunities. The McCarthy Center has limited funds to support such requests and therefore has instituted a funding proposal process to enhance funding equity.

Funding may be requested to subsidize travel costs, pay for attendance fees, supply costs and more. Funding may be distributed as a reimbursement of fees or supplies with proper documentation.

Funding decisions are made periodically through the year based on the perceived impact of the project for CSB+SJU, the McCarthy Center, and our mission. Funding decisions are made at the discretion of McCarthy Center staff on the basis of available funding. To apply for funding, please complete this form. You may be contacted via email for additional information before a funding decision is made.

We seek to fund a variety of experiences with the limited funds we have, and, as such, funding a project in one fiscal year does not guarantee future funding through the McCarthy Center. 

Funding applications should be submitted before the project commences. 

Guidelines for McCarthy Center Funding for Student Projects, Research, and Conferences:

Funding is subject to the following conditions:

1. CSB+SJU students of any major are eligible for funding through the McCarthy Center.
2. If the project is in collaboration with faculty, staff, or other CSB+SJU students, please list them in the application.
3. Prior to any international travel funds request, you must work with the Office for Education Abroad (OEA) to complete the necessary paperwork.
4. Prior to your project, you must submit a brief summary outlining the purpose of your project and details of participation to Matt Lindstrom with a copy to the McCarthy Center via our email: [email protected]. We do our best to highlight the important work of our students. 

Please direct any questions to Matt Lindstrom.

Student Grants Application

McCarthy Center funding is open to all majors! Submit an application to request funding for student opportunities!

What can you request funding for?

• An independent research project
• Travel and/or attendance to a conference or event
• Professional development opportunities
• Public service opportunities
• A public art project
• Voter registration efforts
• Community engagement proposals
• and MORE!

VIEW APPLICATION