PUC addresses questions about North High scholarships

North High School seniors in April 2022 recorded the moment after learning they each received a $10,000 scholarship for college or career training. Photo by David Pierini

Pillsbury United Communities is defending its administration of scholarships for North High grads after social media posts this week reported families were unable to access the funds.

Last year, PUC helped raise more than $900,000 to ensure every Polar senior from the class of 2022 receives a scholarship of up to $10,000 for college or other career advancement programs. This was a class that endured so much, including isolation during the COVID-19 shutdowns and the murder of George Floyd. 

The scholarship fund, made up of contributions from a variety of foundations and other donors, was a surprise announcement during a senior assembly in April 2022. Students were ecstatic.

Currently, 40 of the 74 graduates used some or all the money. A report by PUC in June listed several challenges in making sure every student received their scholarship money.

“We understand the vital role scholarships play,” said Cinnamon Pelly, PUC’s president and CEO. “We appreciate the feedback and the opportunity to explain the process. We want to ensure all students know how to access the scholarships to support their post-secondary plans. If students need assistance with college or career planning, we are here to help.”

Some students had not decided on a postsecondary path and may not have understood how to access support. To ease that anxiety, PUC has extended the deadline to June 30, 2024, to access the funds and have staff ready to counsel students still considering college or career training.

Some students reported difficulty getting the money assigned to their student accounts. A few had full scholarships from an institution, leaving them eligible to receive only a small amount of the PUC scholarship for other education-related expenses, such as a laptop.

The money can only be used for certain expenses, such as tuition, registration fees, room and board, and books and technology purchased only through the school. Institutions are required to invoice Pillsbury directly for these expenses.

For students seeking college or career counseling, contact Gary Ly at GaryL@pillsburyunited.org or 651-252-4649 during business hours. 

Visit the scholarship web page for the information needed to access the fund.

Disclosure: North News is owned and operated by Pillsbury United Communities.