Reuben T. Guenthner Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education

Reuben T. Guenthner Scholarship — Overview

The Reuben T. Guenthner Scholarship honors the legacy of Reuben T. Guenthner, a prominent figure in Career and Technical Education (CTE) at both the state and national levels. Mr. Guenthner began his career as a CTE student, later worked as a secondary CTE instructor, served as a supportive local CTE administrator, and from 1968 to 1995 was employed by the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education. In 1982 he was named to the National Advisory Council on Career Education by President Reagan. When he retired in 1995, Mr. Guenthner was serving as the North Dakota State Director of Career and Technical Education.

Award Amount and Term

One nonrenewable scholarship of $600 will be awarded in May 2026 and is intended to support the recipient during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet every item below:
- Be a graduating senior from a North Dakota high school in 2026.
- Have completed one or more Career and Technical Education courses during grades 9–12. Acceptable CTE program areas include: Agriculture Education; Business Education; Family and Consumer Sciences; Information Technology; Marketing Education; Technology and Engineering Education; or any Trade, Industry, Technical, and Health Education program.
- Plan to enroll in a two-year public postsecondary institution in North Dakota.
- Enroll as a full-time student in a CTE program that is two years or shorter in length.

How to Apply

Submit the online application form at:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/NDCTE1/ReubenTGuenthnerScholarshipApplication2026

The online form asks for short answers/essays and provides a place to upload required documents. Required materials:
- Three (3) letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant’s character and accomplishments. At least one letter must come from an instructor; the other two may be from employers, advisors, community members, or other educators who can attest to the applicant.
- High school transcript (PDF).

If you do not yet have all recommendation letters or your transcript when completing the online form, or if recommenders prefer to send materials directly, have those documents emailed as PDFs to mnetzloff@nd.gov before the application deadline.

Deadline

All application materials must be submitted by April 1, 2026, 5:00 PM. Incomplete applications or submissions received after April 1, 2026, 5:00 PM will not be considered.

Questions

If you need assistance completing the application, contact Michael Netzloff at mnetzloff@nd.gov.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on the following factors:
- Postsecondary intent and career goals (motivation for chosen field and plans after completing education)
- Leadership experience (especially roles and participation in career and technical student organizations)
- School and community involvement
- Work experience
- Content of recommendation letters
- Academic performance (grades)
- Extent of participation in CTE
- Overall presentation and completeness of the application (including spelling and grammar)

Notification and Disbursement

The scholarship recipient will be notified between mid-April and May. Payment will be sent to the recipient’s postsecondary institution after the student’s enrollment has been verified.

Scholarship Funding

The award is financed by income from funds invested in the Career and Technical Education Endowment Fund held within the North Dakota Community Foundation.