TIPS ON WRITING A THANK YOU LETTER Thank you

							           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