William E. Barto Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation
Overview
William E. Barto (born 1911 in Pennsylvania) served in the U.S. Navy and later worked for Fruehauf Company. In retirement he took up painting, a craft he learned from his first wife, an accomplished watercolorist. In 1995 this scholarship was created in his memory to support students pursuing studies in the arts.
Eligibility
- Graduates of one of the following high schools: Duluth Denfeld, Duluth East, Harbor City International School, Marshall School, Superior Senior High School, or Maranatha Academy.
- Must be enrolled at the University of Minnesota Duluth or the University of Wisconsin Superior.
- Demonstrated financial need is required.
- Declared course of study in an Arts discipline.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Award Amount
- $4,000 per year, renewable for up to four years (maximum total $16,000).
Application Cycle
- Uses the Universal Application.
Important Dates
- Applications open: December 1, 2025
- Application deadline: February 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Award Notifications and Disbursement
- Recipients will be informed by email no later than May 1, 2026.
- Scholarship funds are sent directly to the recipient’s institution. For the 2026 academic year, fall semester payments will be sent to schools by July 30, 2026 and spring semester payments by December 30, 2026. In general, award payments are mailed to institutions in these ranges: fall payments July 15–30 and spring payments December 15–30.
How Funds May Be Used
- This scholarship may be applied toward costs of postsecondary education at any accredited college, university, or technical/vocational school. Payments are issued to the school on the student’s behalf.
If You Transfer Schools
- If you plan to change institutions, contact DSACF as soon as possible. A school transfer does not automatically move the scholarship to the new institution. If a transfer occurs after funds have been disbursed, reprocessing the payment to the new school may take up to 90 days.