Knudson Foundation Scholarships
“Your generosity has made a real difference in my life, and I don’t take that lightly. I’m so thankful for not only the financial support, but also for the confidence you’ve shown in me. It inspires me to keep working hard and to eventually give back to my community.“
— Danielle, 2026 Scholarship Recipient, Studying to be an oncology nurse
Scholarship Opportunities
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation provides scholarships to seven Oregon Community Colleges
The Foundation awards one scholarship to each of seven community colleges. The student may be studying in any discipline or certificate program. We hope our scholarship will enable the student to continue their career in their local community, if desired.
Student Emergency Funds
The Foundation, as part of its scholarship program, also provides additional grants to student emergency fund to assist any student who has encountered a minor emergency that may prevent completion of the academic year.
Community Colleges We Support
The Foundation has focused on community colleges that serve rural areas.
How It Works
A student at one of the participating Community Colleges wishing to be considered for a scholarship should complete the regular financial aid application process at their respective school. The college will notify the student selected to receive the scholarship.
The History of Barbara’s Scholarship Program
The Foundation began awarding scholarships in 2015 at five Oregon Community Colleges. The Community Colleges were chosen because they make the greatest overall impact to our intended recipients. In 2020 as a response to the pandemic, we increased the number of colleges to seven and added the student emergency funds. Our hope with the emergency fund is to provide the extra boost that allows a student to stay in school despite an unexpected emergency. In 2025, the Board adopted a more rural focus and replaced two urban community colleges with Blue Mountain and Klamath. We also increased the scholarship amount to $6,750.
Frequently Asked Questions
How we’ve helped
Recent Scholarship Recipients
Class of 2027