How to Write a Thank You Letter

Your scholarship is made possible each year thanks to the private support of Southeast Missouri State University's friends and alumni. Many of these donors continue to give to scholarship endowments because they know their gifts are important to our students. A personal note of thanks from scholarship recipients reinforces the importance of the donor's investment in Southeast and keeps them connected with the campus community. Thank you for recognizing the generosity of our donors, and the benefit their generosity provides to you as well as future award recipients. The tips provided below will assist you as you prepare your thank you letter.

• Use quality bond paper or personal stationary.
• Letters may be typed or neatly handwritten (black or blue ink).
• Please include the date, a return address (if you choose), a salutation, and a proper closing, including your handwritten signature.
• In the body of the letter, include the name of the scholarship award.
• Express your gratitude for the scholarship and how the scholarship will help you.
• Personalize your letter to include information about your accomplishments, educational or career plans, extracurricular interests and activities, and/or what you enjoy about attending Southeast.
• Renewal scholarship recipients should send a thank you note each year they are awarded the scholarship.
• Be clear and concise – and check and re-check spelling.
• Please upload your thank you note to AcademicWorks and mail a hard copy to
  Southeast Missouri University Foundation
  One University Plaza, MS7300
  Cape Girardeau, MO  63701.

If you have any questions or need help in composing your thank you letter, please contact Jennifer Smith at 573-651-2252 or jnsmith@semo.edu.

Sample Letter (do not just copy and paste; make sure to personalize to your information)

Student Name
Address
City, State Zip

Date

Mr. John Donor
100 Redhawk Lane
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Dear Mr. Donor,

I am writing to personally thank you for establishing the John E. Donor Endowed Scholarship. I am honored to have been selected for this scholarship this year.

I am currently in my second year at Southeast, and am pursing a degree in accounting. I live in Merick Hall, where I was Resident Advisor this past year. I have been a member of the baseball team for two years and serve as a Presidential Ambassador. I hope to participate in an internship this summer with an accounting firm in my hometown of Anywhere, MO. After graduation I would like to obtain my CPA license and attend graduate school for my MBA.

Again, thank you for your generosity. This award will allow me to make the most of all opportunities in my education at Southeast Missouri State.

Sincerely,

(Handwritten signature)