TIPS ON WRITING A THANK YOU LETTER
Thank you letters are a mandatory condition of accepting most scholarships at UTPA. A thank-you letter should be sincere, expressing appreciation without excessive flattery. The tone should be pleasant. Donors appreciate receiving a thank-you letter. Your thank-you letter assists in persuading a donor to renew their contribution to a scholarship. As a guide to help you write your thank-you letter, we have provided you with some tips on what to include in your letter. While we would like you to follow these guidelines, they are not restrictions on how to write your letter. Things to be included in your letter
• • • • • • Educational Background (your year in school and major) Accomplishments/Achievements (obstacles you have overcome to attend college) Extracurricular Activities (stories about a relevant extra curricular or community service project that impacted your life) Goals and Aspirations (your future plans-both immediate and long term; include career you wish to pursue) Mention your appreciation for the scholarship that you received, and your plans for utilizing the funds. ("Thank you for making this scholarship possible" or "Your scholarship makes it possible for me to concentrate more fully on my courses.") Remember that the donor did not select you as the recipient, but provided the funds for the scholarship, i.e. "Thanks for making the UTPA “Excellence” Scholarship possible......"
Tips on writing your letter
• • • • • • • • Address your letter to: (Donor contact name, given to you by the Scholarship Office or Department/College ) Your thank you letter can be handwritten or typed. Either is acceptable, however if handwritten it must be neat and legible. The use of a thank you card, personal stationary or plain stationary is acceptable. Be concise in your letter, but sincere. State what the thank-you is for by using the full and correct scholarship name and donor contact name provided in your award letter. Make sure that you sign your letter. Make sure that, upon final inspection, your letter has a neat appearance. Check all spelling and grammar after you have completed your letter. (Have a counselor or English teacher proof read your letter)
Sample Letter
January 8, 2001 Sam Edwards C/O UTPA Scholarships 1201 West University Drive Edinburg, TX 78541 Dear Mr. Edwards: As a recipient of the Edwards Family Scholarship, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your support of UTPA and its students. I am a sophomore in the College of Business pursuing a degree in management. During my free time, I volunteer at the University Medical Center's Cancer Center where I tutor children, who because of their illnesses, can not attend school regularly. After graduation I hope to work with the tourism industry in the city of San Antonio. Once again, thank you for helping me achieve my educational and career goals.
Sincerely, Sally Smith