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Recipients of the Schulze Innovation Scholarship pose together for a group photo on August 28, 2018 outside of the Anderson Student Center.

Become a Schulze Scholar

Schulze Innovation Scholarship Program

Join the Best and the Brightest

The Schulze Innovation Scholarship Program at the University of St. Thomas is a four-year full-tuition scholarship and premier academic program. This one-of-a-kind experience nurtures students into innovative, entrepreneurial leaders, and helps to launch their careers.

Schulze Scholars receive a rich educational experience that includes individual mentoring, hands-on learning, and unique opportunities for networking and internships. Students graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to make the most of their talents, ambitions and entrepreneurial opportunities. If you choose to launch a startup after graduation, you’ll have the chance to work with business advisors and mentors, and the opportunity to gain access to seed capital.

This scholarship program is highly competitive, admitting up to 10 first-year students per year. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply.

Application Deadline
January 6, 2025

Schulze Innovation Scholarship Event/Selection Day
Weekend of February 22, 2025

Selection Notification
March 2025
  • Eligibility Requirements
  • How to Apply
  • Scholarship Day for Finalists
  • Eligibility Requirements

    • Be an incoming first-year student
    • Acceptance to St. Thomas
    • Minimum high school GPA of 3.5 or greater
    • Entrepreneurship major (you can double major in another discipline)
    • Demonstrated entrepreneurial creativity and inventiveness, as described in application through an example of entrepreneurial venture/initiative

    How to Apply

    You can apply for the Schulze Innovation Scholarship Program when you complete your general application for admission to St. Thomas. During the general application process, you’ll see the option to select one or more of the available scholarships. Choose the Schulze Innovation Scholarship, then follow the instructions to complete your application. To be considered for the Schulze Scholarship, you will need to prepare:

    • An essay that describes your entrepreneurial endeavors. Provide concrete examples of how you’ve applied an entrepreneurial spirit to problem solving and to the development of new ideas, initiatives or ventures
    • Letter of reference

    Have these materials ready to upload with your application, which is due no later than January 6, 2025. Our selection committee will choose the applicants who show the most promise as innovative, creative problem solvers.

    International students can click this link to apply for the Schulze Innovation Scholarship.

    Apply Now

    Scholarship Day for Finalists

    On Scholarship Day, selected finalists and their parents come to our St. Paul campus to take a tour, and meet faculty and staff. Our selection committee interviews the finalists to learn more about their aspirations and character, and why the scholarship would make a difference. The committee uses this information to choose the Schulze Scholars. Attendance at Scholarship Day is required.

    Eligibility Requirements

    • Be an incoming first-year student
    • Acceptance to St. Thomas
    • Minimum high school GPA of 3.5 or greater
    • Entrepreneurship major (you can double major in another discipline)
    • Demonstrated entrepreneurial creativity and inventiveness, as described in application through an example of entrepreneurial venture/initiative

    How to Apply

    You can apply for the Schulze Innovation Scholarship Program when you complete your general application for admission to St. Thomas. During the general application process, you’ll see the option to select one or more of the available scholarships. Choose the Schulze Innovation Scholarship, then follow the instructions to complete your application. To be considered for the Schulze Scholarship, you will need to prepare:

    • An essay that describes your entrepreneurial endeavors. Provide concrete examples of how you’ve applied an entrepreneurial spirit to problem solving and to the development of new ideas, initiatives or ventures
    • Letter of reference

    Have these materials ready to upload with your application, which is due no later than January 6, 2025. Our selection committee will choose the applicants who show the most promise as innovative, creative problem solvers.

    International students can click this link to apply for the Schulze Innovation Scholarship.

    Apply Now

    Scholarship Day for Finalists

    On Scholarship Day, selected finalists and their parents come to our St. Paul campus to take a tour, and meet faculty and staff. Our selection committee interviews the finalists to learn more about their aspirations and character, and why the scholarship would make a difference. The committee uses this information to choose the Schulze Scholars. Attendance at Scholarship Day is required.

    Featured Schulze Scholars

    Image of student Maria Bell

    Maria Bell ‘22

    Igniting change as an intrapreneur

    Maria plans to apply her entrepreneurial problem-solving skills as an actuary in the corporate environment.

    Maria Bell
    Image of student Ben Frey

    Ben Frey ‘22

    Combining science and business

    Ben is turning his passions into a career – bridging his Computer Science and Physics studies with entrepreneurship.

    Ben Frey
    Image of student Chihiro Gustafson

    Chihiro Gustafson ‘23

    Harnessing Tommie networks

    Chihiro successfully launched his own bike business with the support and guidance of the entrepreneurship community.

    Chihiro Gustafson
    Image of Amy Helgeson

    Amy Helgeson ‘22

    Heart of a social entrepreneur

    Determined to make a difference, Amy focuses her entrepreneurial pursuits on improving the quality of life for others.

    Amy Helgeson
    Image of Katie McDonald

    Katie McDonald ‘24

    Advocate for inclusivity in fashion

    Katie is striving to make fashion more equitable with her social business ventures.

    Katie McDonald
    Image of student Xander Smaby

    Xander Smaby ‘22

    Education opening doors

    St. Thomas helped Xander land his dream job at global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

    Xander Smaby
    Amy Helgeson headshot. Dylan Dierkling headshot.

    Environmental Entrepreneur On The Rise

    Schulze Innovation Scholar recipient Amy Helgeson developed an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags.

    Environmental Entrepreneur On The Rise

    A Self-Taught Eco-Friendly Designer

    Schulze Innovation Scholar recipient Dylan Dierking designed a clothing line out of his dorm room.
    A Dorm Room Eco-Designer

    “The Schulze Innovation Scholarship gives you a lot of confidence. You see that other people realize your vision and believe in you, too.”

    Cole Hennen

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