About FFN Scholarships
By Pirjo Kujansuu Schulbach, Scholarship Committee Chair
In 1956, Finlandia Foundation National established its first program, a scholarship fund dedicated to music students in the United States and Finland. It was named for the organization’s first Patron, Jean Sibelius.
The inaugural Sibelius Scholarship went to Einojuhani Rautavaara, a student at the Sibelius Academy who applied his funds toward study at The Juilliard Academy in New York City. Rautavaara (1928- 2016) would go on to become one of Finland’s most important composers.
Until 1991, only music students were eligible for FFN scholarships.
Since then, students in any field of undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited American or Finnish college or university may apply. This year's recipients include Jori Carter (above), a senior at the University of Washington pursuing majors in Civil Engineering and Scandinavian Studies, as well as a minor in Finnish language. Jori was born to a Finnish mother and American father in Seattle.
Law students in the U.S. and Finland are eligible for scholarships from the P.J.C. Lindfors Legal Studies Fund.
In 2021, FFN received the highest ever number of scholarship applications. The committee reviewed the applications of 68 post-secondary students and two law applicants for the Lindfors scholarship. Committee members remarked on the high caliber of applicants for both programs. All bode well for the future of the U.S. and Finland.
The committee and the FFN Board of Trustees voted to award the largest ever scholarship budget: $57,000 to 25 students in a variety of fields, including aerospace engineering, biology, fire science, music composition, print making, medicine, law, intellectual property and human rights. Individual awards range from $1,000 to $3,000. There are five Americans, four Finns and 16 dual U.S./Finnish citizens.
The Scholarship Committee is chaired by FFN member Pirjo Kujansuu Schulbach with members Ellen Harju, Satu Lehto, Marjo Northup, Turto Turtiainen and FFN Trustee Hanna Wagner. Finlandia Foundation National and the committee congratulate the 2021 recipients. The next application deadline for scholarships is February 1, 2022.
Your gift to FFN, a 501(c)(3) organization, is matched dollar-for-dollar by the Paloheimo Foundation (up to $100,000 annually).
Thank You! Kiitos!
