Bearcat Day of Green 2026 has concluded, but the spirit of giving has not! Click here to make a gift.
$ 219,713 raised 532 gifts
Scholarships has raised $ 118,951 from 159 gifts!
Scholarships Help Ease Students' Financial Burden

Help to free students from the financial constraints associated with higher education. No person who wants to go to college and who is willing to work hard should be prevented by financial need. However, for Northwest to remain competitive, providing meaningful scholarship support is essential for attracting quality students.

Nearly 40% of Northwest's students are first-generation college students. Many provide a majority of their own educational costs. As the cost of higher education continues to rise, today's high school students know scholarships may be the determining factor if a college education is in their future.

Adopt-A-Bearcat

The Adopt-A-Bearcat Scholarship allows you to double your impact on Northwest students. Northwest will match your gift (minimum $250) dollar-for-dollar and award a scholarship in your honor. Example: if you donate $500, Northwest matches it and two individual $500 scholarships are awarded in your name. Donors receive information about the grateful Northwest student(s) who receive their "Adopt-A-Bearcat" scholarships.

Northwest Promise

Recipients of the Northwest Promise meet Northwest's moderately selective admissions criteria and come from the neediest families (family income less than $65,000). Unlike other need-based programs, the grant, in conjunction with the student's federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships, covers 100% of tuition and standard fees and is renewable for three additional years for those meeting the eligibility criteria. 

Powering Dreams

Northwest students who receive a Powering Dreams Scholarship are often considered "caught in the middle," both academically and financially. They are the core of Northwest's student body. The Powering Dreams Scholarship assists students who fall just below the eligibility level to qualify for many prestigious academic awards. In addition, the students come from middle-class families that earn too much to qualify for financial assistance other than loans that are capped by federal statute. These are academically talented students who, with the proper resources, have the ability to graduate and become productive, well-rounded citizens.  

Northwest Retiree Leadership Scholarship

The scholarship, created by retirees who dedicated their careers to Northwest, will be awarded to a full-time Northwest student serving as an ambassador of Lead Green, a non-credit, co-curricular-based program at the University that is designed to develop leaders who will impact the greater campus community. Lead Green students develop knowledge and skills through a multi-tiered program that includes a leadership module, workshops and a mentorship program. Through the leadership program, students cultivate skills to succeed personally and professionally.

To learn more about Northwest's scholarships, click here https://www.nwmissouri.edu/foundation/opportunities/scholarships/index.htm

If you'd like to support a scholarship that isn't listed here, select "Other" on the donation page and type in the scholarship's name. 



 

Joe & Kelly Quinlin Scholarship Department-Specific Scholarships Northwest Retiree Leadership Scholarship Joe Bell Black Alumni & Friends Scholarship Adopt-A-Bearcat Northwest Promise (formerly American Dream Grant) Powering Dreams Stop the Stop-Out Scholarship Fund Tapps Health Science and Wellness Scholarship
2
Match
Pijanowski Northwest Promise Scholarship Challenge
All gifts made to the Northwest Promise Scholarship Fund will be matched up to $1,000 from Pat ’84 & Carol ’82 Pijanowski. Recipients of the Northwest Promise meet Northwest's moderately selective admissions criteria and come from the neediest families. Unlike other need-based programs, the grant, in conjunction with the student's federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships, covers 100% of tuition and standard fees and is renewable for three additional years for those meeting the eligibility criteria. Pat & Carol are both longtime supporters of Northwest and Pat is a current member of the Northwest Foundation Board.
$1,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Michael and Kenna Johnson Happy Hour Challenge
Between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, all donations will be matched (up to $1000)! During this hour, any donation made will be doubled by Michael '85 and Kenna '84, '87 Johnson to the fund of your choosing. Michael is the Vice President of University Advancement at Northwest, and Kenna served as an Academic Advisor before her retirement.
$1,000 MATCHED
Completed
$500
Timothy Carlyle Scholarship Challenge
The first 10 donations of $10 or more to Scholarships will unlock a $500 gift from Timothy Carlyle '01, Director of Infrastructure Services at Northwest Missouri State University.
10 / 10 Gifts
Completed
$1,000
Joe and Kelly Quinlin Scholarship Challenge
In honor of Joe and Kelly Quinlin’s contributions to Northwest Missouri State University, Dr. Terry and Anne '16 Long have issued a challenge in honor of the two as a part of the Bearcat Day of Green. If 58 gifts make a contribution to the Joe '00 & Kelly '00 Quinlin scholarship fund (in honor of the 58 points scored by the 1999 National Champion Bearcat Football team), the Longs will make a special donation to the same scholarship. The goal is to create an endowed scholarship to be awarded annually to a student in the School of Health Science and Wellness.
58 / 58 Gifts
Completed
$500
Drs. Kori and Allison Hoffmann Stop the Stop-Out Scholarship Fund Challenge
Each semester, an average of 20–30 Bearcat students do not return to Northwest, citing inability to pay as the primary reason. Many are working multiple jobs, maintaining solid grades, and paying bills on time, but lack access to parent loans or are loan averse. The Stop the Stop-Out Endowed Scholarship Fund would be administered by Northwest’s financial aid office to support students who have met all payment obligations for tuition, fees, and housing but fall short despite consistent effort. The first 10 gifts of $25 or more to support the Stop the Stop-Out Scholarship Fund will unlock a special gift from Drs. Kori and Allison '01, '03 Hoffmann. Drs. Kori and Allison '01, '03 Hoffmann. Kori serves as the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of Student Conduct and Development, and Allison serves as the Assistant Vice President of Admissions and Student Success.
10 / 10 Gifts
Completed
Leaderboard
Ted and Kate Place Opening Sprint Challenge
The area with the most donors between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, will receive an additional gift of $500 from Ted '99 and Kate '99, '00, '08 Place. Ted currently serves as the President of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors. Ted and Kate's families have cheered at Bearcat games, walked the same sidewalks, and built lasting friendships rooted in Northwest and they hope this gift inspires others to start strong for the university that shaped their story.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1 Joe & Kelly Quinlin Scholarship 12
2 School of Language, Literature and Writing 4
3 B.D. Owens Library 4
4 KXCV-KRNW 4
5 School of Agricultural Sciences 3
Ended
Leaderboard
The Presidential Power Hour
The area with the most donors between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, will receive an additional gift of $1,000 from President Lance Tatum and First Lady Jill Tatum. Whether you're a sweet tea drinker or triple-expresso fan, it's time to wake up and give back. May the most caffeinated area win.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1 Bearcat Athletic Scholarship Fund 14
2 Football 3
3 KXCV-KRNW 3
4 Department-Specific Scholarships 2
5 Northwest Fund 2
Ended
2
Match
Powering Dreams Scholarship Challenge
All gifts made to the Powering Dreams Scholarship Fund will be matched up to $500 from a generous anonymous donor and alum. Northwest students who receive a Powering Dreams Scholarship are often considered "caught in the middle," both academically and financially. They are the core of Northwest's student body. These are academically talented students who, with the proper resources, have the ability to graduate and become productive, well-rounded citizens.
$500 MATCHED
Completed
$1,000
Kevin & Kathy Fullerton Scholarship Challenge
The first 15 donations of $50 or more to Scholarships will unlock a $1,000 gift from Kevin '88 and Kathy Fullerton. Kevin is a proud Northwest alumnus and Kathy is a long-time Bearcat friend!
15 / 15 Gifts
Completed
$10,000
Gary and Merry McDonald Scholarship Challenge
The first 40 donations of $20 or more to Scholarships will unlock a $10,000 gift from Drs. Gary and Merry McDonald! Gary and Merry each dedicated 44 years of their careers to Northwest as professors and were founding members of the University's Department of Computer Science and Information Systems.
40 / 40 Gifts
Completed
$500
Kimberly Massey Cole Joe Bell Black Alumni and Friends Scholarship Challenge
The first 10 donations of $25 or more to the Joe Bell Black Alumni and Friends Scholarship will unlock a $500 gift from Kimberly Massey Cole ’93. Kim is a lifelong Bearcat fan and the current president of the Northwest Alumni Board.
10 / 10 Gifts
Completed
$2,000
Tapps Family Health Science and Wellness Scholarship Challenge
If 25 donors contribute to the Tapps Family Health Science and Wellness Scholarship fund, Dr. Tyler '04, '06 and Christy Tapps and family, Northwest staff members will make a $2,000 contribution. After years of being a professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness, Tyler now serves as Associate Provost for Academic Operations and Assessment. Christy is the Assistant Vice President of Health & Wellbeing at Northwest and the former Head Athletic Trainer. The Tapps Family Health Science and Wellness endowed scholarship will award annually to a student majoring in health sciences or recreation. Preference given to students with career aspirations in health sciences, sports, or recreation industry.
25 / 25 Donors
Completed
Leaderboard
Krista and Scott Barcus Finish Line Challenge
The area with the most donors from 4:00 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, will receive an additional gift of $1,000 from Krista '03 and Scott Barcus. Krista is the Vice President of Culture and has two Bearcat daughters, Kelsey and Addalea.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1 Bearcat Athletic Scholarship Fund 17
2 Joe & Kelly Quinlin Scholarship 10
3 Joe Bell Black Alumni & Friends Scholarship 5
4 Department-Specific Scholarships 3
5 Northwest Fund 3
Ended
Participating Groups
Northwest Fund Scholarships Academics Bearcat Athletics Student Life
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