The Czech and Slovak Cultural Center of Minnesota (CSCC) has established a new annual scholarship program to enable a person with a clearly defined interest in Czech or Slovak language and culture to complete a Czech or Slovak language course offered through the Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota. This new CSCC Mestenhauser-Pafko Memorial Scholarship has been funded with an initial contribution of $200 following a Board of Directors vote on August 4, 2019. CSCC’s initial scholarship award will cover tuition for one semester for one student. The scholarship program will commence with the semester starting in January 2021 or September 2021.
The program is named in honor of the late Dr. Joseph Mestenhauser, founder of CSCC and Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota (1999-2008), and of the late Donald Pafko, Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic for Minnesota (2009-2017).
Interested persons are asked complete an online application form that includes a brief essay (personal letter of interest) describing their relationship to and interest in Czech or Slovak language and culture, and a contact for applicant’s reference. Please, submit the form by January 1st, 2021 to be considered for the Spring semester 2021. You can also submit the form at a later date for the Fall 2021 semesters. Students have to be 18+ on the first day of class.
The scholarship will be awarded by the CSCC Board of Directors on or before January 5th, 2021 for the Spring semester and in the Summer of 2021 for the Fall semester. Preference will be given to new students. Financial need may also be a consideration. If applying for consideration based on financial need, please provide an explanation and evidence of need with your application.
Award recipients will be required to register and successfully complete the course within one year of the receipt of the award.
Donations to the Mestenhauser-Pakfo Memorial Scholarship program are welcomed and tax-deductible. Please make checks payable to CSCC, a 501(c)3 organization, or go to our Donations and Membership page. Donors contributing $100 or more will be awarded a complimentary one-year membership in CSCC and a free ticket to a future CSCC performing arts event.
For questions, please contact Renáta Tichá at tich0018@umn.edu.