INFORMATION FOR
Students who are awarded a donor scholarship will be required to write a thank you letter to the donor(s) of the scholarship. All thank you letters must be submitted online by the stated deadline, as part of the post-acceptance requirement process.
Why Are Thank You Letters Required?
Each donor scholarship is funded by a gift from a generous donor. Many donors are William Paterson University alumni who value the education they received at William Paterson and who want to make an impact on you, a current student.
Each year, our donors tell us how much they enjoy reading thank you notes from students. They want to learn more about you, your studies, and your plans for the future. Therefore, we require donor scholarship recipients to write a thank you to give your donor(s) the opportunity to get to know you better.
Guidelines for Writing a Thank You Letter
All donor scholarship thank you letters will be reviewed and you may be asked to rewrite your letter if it does not sufficiently meet the guidelines.
If you need help with writing the thank you letter, we encourage you to contact William Paterson’s Writing Center.
Example Thank You Letters
Below are links to examples of thank you letters. Please use your own words and thoughts in your letter. These examples are offered only as a guide – DO NOT copy the letters. If you copy a letter exactly, you will be asked to rewrite your letter. Failure to submit an adequate thank you letter by the stated deadline may result in the cancellation of the donor scholarship offer.
Dear (Scholarship Donor’s Name),
I am excited to be the recipient of the (Name of the Donor Scholarship You Were Awarded) at William Paterson University. Your generosity is allowing me to continue my studies as a first-generation college student, and I cannot thank you enough.
I am currently a senior majoring in environmental science, with a minor in biology. My courses keep me engaged, especially environmental sustainability, which allows me to study the long-term effects of pollution on our planet more in-depth. The environment has been important to me since my childhood. My classwork has kept this fascination alive and has made me want to pursue my dreams even further.
Beyond my coursework, I am also an active member of the Green League and I volunteer once a month with Passaic County Parks and Recreation. Volunteering is a lot of fun and has given me the opportunity to share what I have learned in my classes through environmental education programs. Last summer, I worked full-time at a local camp educating children about the environment.
Thank you once again for making this scholarship possible. My education is important for my future career and knowing that you care about the success of a William Paterson student like me, gives me the boost I need to get through my challenging courses this year.
Sincerely,
(Your First and Last Name)
Thank you for the (Name of the Donor Scholarship You Were Awarded). Your support is helping me reach my goal of graduating in (term and year you plan to graduate) with a bachelor’s degree in (name your field of study).
I am a junior at William Paterson University. My education has always been a priority for my family. After graduation, I plan to become a teacher in a high needs area, so that I change my students’ lives by passing on my love of learning. After working for a couple of years, I hope to return to school to earn a master’s degree.
At William Paterson, I am currently a tutor in the Writing Center. I am also a writer for The Beacon newspaper. Both of these activities have been a great way for me to be engaged on campus, while helping me to further expand my knowledge and connect with my peers.
Once again, thank you for making this scholarship possible. I am truly grateful.
Thank you for your generous (Name of the Donor Scholarship You Were Awarded). I am honors to be the recipient of this scholarship.
I am a sophomore at William Paterson University studying professional sales. My siblings and I were raised by our single mother. Although she has always had to work multiple jobs to support our family, she always made time for us and supported our talents and dreams.
I work hard to maintain a good grade point average and am considering applying for graduate school at William Paterson. In addition to my full-time studies, I also work part-time to help pay for my tuition. On campus, I am vice president of the Professional Sales Club. My role is to invite professionals to attend our meetings to present on their careers. This has made me more aware of my possible future career opportunities, while also expand my professional network.
Receiving this scholarship has allowed me to maintain my focus on my studies. Though I still work, I have been able to reduce my hours during the semester so that I can spend more time studying. My family and I are grateful to see that someone else believes in me and my aspirations as much as they do.
Thank you again for making this scholarship possible.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Donor Scholarships at IAScholarships@wpunj.edu or 973.720.2934. If you are an enrolled student, please have your student ID number ready when you call, and include it in all email correspondence to ensure a timely and accurate response.
