Thank-You Letter for Scholarship

Winning a scholarship is exciting, but writing a formal thank you letter to the scholarship donors or committee when you have never done it before can be a bit intimidating. Here are some pointers on how to tackle a scholarship thank-you letter.

What to Write In a Scholarship Thank-You Letter

A thank you letter is just that. A note to express your thanks and gratitude. Think about what the scholarship means to you and how it will help you as a future student and with your college education. Consider the motivation of the donor and why they sponsor this scholarship. Related to that, let them know how it will help you further your studies.

How to Start a Thank-You Letter for a Scholarship

Once you have the personal information formatting in place (we’ll get to that in a second), it’s time to write the first paragraph. It’s best to start the letter off with who you are and why you’re writing. Thank-you letters are typically short, so this paragraph will be two to three sentences.

Your second paragraph should speak to the impact the scholarship will have on you and your future.

In the last paragraph, restate your thanks, and reiterate your commitment to using the scholarship wisely. Don’t be too worried about saying “the right thing.” Be sincere and your message will be well-received.

Scholarship Thank-You Letter Format

It’s safe to write your thank-you letter in more formal business letter format as outlined below. Your thank-you letter should not be too long, but should be more than a note in a card. Thank-you letters can be handwritten or typed. If you chose to handwrite, make sure your writing is legible. With either format it’s best to use a nice quality paper or stationery. And don’t forget to have someone proofread for you!

[Your First and Last Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State Zip Code]
[Your Email Address]
 
[Month Day, Year]
 
[Donor's name]
[Donor's company name if applicable]
[Donor’s Address]
[City, State Zip Code]
 
[Formal greeting] Dear Mrs. Jones:

[Intro: 2 to 3 sentences] Why you are writing. Remember to name the scholarship you won. You do not have to mention the award amount.

[2nd Paragraph: 3 to 5 sentences] Tell the donor why this scholarship is important to you and the impact it will have both now and in the future.

[3rd Paragraph: 2 to 4 sentences] Reiterate your thanks and commitment to using the scholarship wisely.
 
[Formal Closing] Sincerely,
[Signed Name]
[Printed Name]

Scholarship Thank You Letter Sample

Here is a sample of what an appropriate scholarship thank-you letter might look like.

Bobbi Smith
123 Main Street
Hometown, NV 99999
 
May 1, 2023
 
Mrs. Dallas Jones
Library Science Alliance
456 West Avenue
Big City, NV 00000
 
Dear Mrs. Jones:

I’m writing to express my gratitude for being chosen as one of the recipients of the 2020 Library Science Alliance Scholarship. This scholarship will help to make my dreams of a college degree a reality.

I have known I wanted to be a librarian ever since I was young. The magic of books has always enchanted me, and I know that as a librarian I can further the mission of your organization by helping to bring knowledge and literacy to others. Libraries provide so much to their communities, and I hope that one day I can be a part of that. The gift of this scholarship will help to alleviate some of the burden of paying for my courses next semester. For that I am truly thankful.

Please be assured that I will follow through on my commitment to this field and put the scholarship to good use. I’m honored to receive this award and hope to live up to your expectations as a Library Science Alliance Scholarship recipient.
 
Warmest Regards,
[Signature]
 
Bobbi Smith