Student-Athlete Scholarships
In addition to the regular athletic scholarships each Yellowjacket team has available to offer to new and returning student-athletes, Montana State University Billings awards a number of additional endowed scholarships to returning student-athletes each year. To apply for any of the scholarships listed below, apply online through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships here. The deadline for submitting scholarship applications is February 1.
Tannehaill Athletic Endowed Scholarship – 4 Scholarships @ $1,000
The Tannehill Athletic Endowed Scholarship is available to student athletes with preference given to members of the Yellowjacket men’s basketball team. Qualification for the award based on participation in intercollegiate athletics, grade point average, and need as determined by Intercollegiate Athletics Scholarship Committee.
Fredrick J. Urbaska Baseball Endowed Scholarship – 2 Scholarships @ $2,600
Fredrick J. Urbaska had a particular infatuation with baseball, a sport in which he actively participated from an early age. Growing up, one of his earliest dreams was to eventually play on a Legion team. When the time arrived, however, Fred opted to drop out of baseball in order to devote his summers to work and save up for the expenses of college. The Fredrick J. Urbaska Baseball Endowed Scholarship is available to a high school senior who will be an entering freshman in college and a member of the Yellowjacket baseball team. The recipient must be a traditional male student, a Billings American Legion baseball player (Royal or Scarlet) who demonstrated both athletic and academic excellence, have a high school GPA of 3.0 or above, be a full-time enrolled student, and preference will be given to student with financial need. If no qualified freshmen apply for the scholarship, the scholarship may go to an upperclassman who meets the remaining criteria.
Brent Montague Merit Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $445
This award supports student athletes who are determined to finish their educations after the expiration of their athletic eligibility. The Brent Montague Merit Endowed Scholarship is available to a Yellowjacket student athlete who has exhausted his or her 4-year athletic eligibility in their respective sport. Preference will be given to men’s or women’s basketball player if otherwise eligible, have a 2.5 GPA or above, must need 36 credits or less to graduate, and must demonstrate outstanding citizenship qualities. The recipient must be a traditional student, must have financial need, and must be enrolled as a full-time student.
Travis Gates Memorial Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $800
Travis Gates spent his first year on the Yellowjacket Golf team as a walk-on without a scholarship and struggled to make it all work. This scholarship, established in 2012 in memory of Travis, is dedicated to helping those in similar circumstances so they can more fully enjoy the experience. The Travis Gates Memorial Endowed Scholarship is available to a student athlete who is a member of the MSU Billings Yellowjacket men’s or women’s golf team who is not receiving an athletic scholarship. The recipient must have a 3.0 GPA or above, show financial need, and be a full-time enrolled student. In the event there is no student who meets the first and second criteria, first priority will be given to a student athlete who is a member of the MSU Billings Yellowjacket men’s or women’s golf team who is not receiving an athletic scholarship but has at least a 2.5 GPA or above. Second priority will be given to a student athlete who is a member of the MSU Billings Yellowjacket men’s or women’s golf team who has at least a 3.0 GPA and is receiving an athletic scholarship.
Talen Energy Women’s Softball Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $640
Talen Energy is one of the largest competitive energy and power generation companies in the United States. Talen Energy values citizenship and believes in partnering to create positive outcomes in their communities. The Talen Energy Women’s Softball Endowed Scholarship is available to a student athlete involved in the softball program. Recipients must have a 3.0 GPA or above, financial need, and must be enrolled as a full-time student.
Sonny O’Day Athletic Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $500
The Sonny O’Day Athletic Endowed Scholarship is available to student athletes who have a 2.5 GPA and financial need. Recipients are selected by the MSUB Foundation Scholarship Committee.
Paul and Patti Gunville Athletic Endowed Scholarship – 2 Scholarships @ $1,450
Recipients of the Paul and Patti Gunville Athletic Endowed Scholarship must be a student athlete involved in one of the following minor sports at MSU Billings: Golf, Soccer, Cross Country, Track and Field, Tennis, Girls Softball, or Men’s Baseball and must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or above.
Nels Christiansen Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $500
A love of friends and family and a passion for athletics, especially golf, led to the establishment of the Nels Christiansen Scholarship. This award is available to student athletes who are members of the MSU Billings Yellowjacket golf team. The recipient must be a Montana resident.
Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $1,000
The Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship awards are based on participation in men’s basketball, grade point average, and need as determined by Intercollegiate Athletics Scholarship Committee.
MSU Billings Athletic Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $1,350
The MSU Billings Athletic Endowed Scholarship was established in 2001 to provide financial assistance to student athletes based on participation on an athletic team, grade point average, and need as determined by the Intercollegiate Athletics Scholarship Selection Committee.
Frank McCarthy Women’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $550
Frank McCarthy was the women’s basketball coach at Montana State University Billings from 1989-1999. In the ten seasons he coached, he led his teams to 191 wins, 4 conference championships, five West Regional Appearances, and one NCAA II Elite Eight Appearance. An inspiring individual, Coach McCarthy was a friend and mentor to many student athletes and even to those who were not his players. At the 2009 Hall of Fame Banquet, members of the 1998-1999 women’s Yellowjacket basketball team announced the establishment of the Frank McCarthy Women’s Basketball Scholarship Endowment to honor Coach McCarthy. The recipient of the Frank McCarthy Women’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship must be a member of the women’s Yellowjacket basketball team, female, have a 2.5 GPA or above, have financial need, be a full-time student, and be a traditional student.
Frances S. Barker Endowed Scholarship – 3 Scholarships @ $3,000
This award provides assistance to needy students, particularly student athletes. The Frances S. Barker Endowed Scholarship is available to a full-time enrolled student with definite financial need and a 3.0 cumulative GPA or above, and preference is given to student athletes.
Dick Edwards Memorial Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ $740
The Dick Edwards Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 1981 in memory of Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) basketball coach, Dick Edwards, who died suddenly on his way to a Yellowjacket basketball practice on January 31, 1981. This award is available to student athletes who have a 3.0 GPA or above, have financial need, and is a full-time enrolled student.
Chapman Lane Men’s Soccer Alumni Endowed Scholarship - $ 1 Scholarship @ $400
Named after the street that housed many soccer players and became their “home away from home,” the Chapman Lane Men’s Soccer Alumni Endowed Scholarship provides scholarship funding for MSU Billings Yellowjacket men’s soccer players who demonstrate success both on and off the field. Scholarship awards are based on participation in athletic team, GPA, and need as determined by Intercollegiate Athletics Scholarship Committee. Recipients must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.
Bart Bauer Endowed Scholarship for Men’s Basketball – 1 Scholarship @ $620
Bart Bauer was a gifted Yellowjacket basketball player, a member of the MSU Billings Athletics Hall of Fame, and one of the top-ten all time scorers. The Bart Bauer Endowed Scholarship for Men’s Basketball is awarded to a Yellowjacket men’s basketball student athlete who displays all the qualities which Bart Bauer displayed during his MSU Billings career, and who also demonstrates the requisite financial need for assistance.
Abby Farmer Wright Endowed Scholarship – 1 Scholarship @ 1,120
The Abby Farmer Wright Endowed Scholarship is available to a Yellowjacket women’s or men’s soccer player. Additional criteria may be determined by MSU Billings Intercollegiate Athletics Scholarship Committee.
