Scholarships through the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education (OTIDE) are made possible through the generous contributions of donors, alumni, foundations, and corporations. We request that you submit a formal thank-you letter showing your appreciation for the scholarship you have been awarded.
Thank You Letter Guidelines
- Letter should be in a formal letter format (see example below)
- While the letter does not need to be long, it should reflect you and your appreciation for the scholarship.
- Tell the donor about yourself (background, current situation, family dynamics, etc.)
- Experiences that led you to choose The University of Alabama
- Major and academic college in which you plan to enroll (i.e., Marketing in C&BA)
- Things you enjoy about The University of Alabama
- Organizations in which you participate
- What you hope to accomplish while at The University of Alabama
- Future career plans
- How the scholarship will help/has helped you
- Include your name, address, and email address at the top of the letter
- Reference the name of the scholarship you are receiving.
- Do not mention the value of the scholarship.
- Beware of grammatical and spelling errors. Always proofread what you write!
- Save the document as your “first and last name_name of the scholarship”.
- Submit your letter in the ASAM system.
- The letter will be printed to share with endowment donors.
If you have any questions, contact LaFecia Hoover at 205-348-8586 or lmhoover@ua.edu.
Formal Thank You Letter Template
[Your name]
[Your address]
[City, state]
[Email address]
[Date of letter]
[Name of Scholarship]
[Greeting] [Recipient’s name],
I am writing to [Explain why you’re writing clearly and concisely. Use three to five sentences in this introductory paragraph.]
[Additional body paragraph providing more details and supporting your main goal. You may need two paragraphs to do this effectively, using examples and observations. Use formal speech throughout, rather than slang or casual language.]
[Conclusion repeating the letter’s purpose, thanking the reader and providing a call to action asking the recipient to do something.]
[Complimentary closing]
[Space for signature if you plan to mail or fax the letter.]
[Your Signature] [Your Printed Name]