The Tim J. Penny
Fellowship
An early member of the Minnesota State University Students Association (MSUSA, now Students United), Tim Penny is a founding member of our organization. For over 50 years, Tim has dedicated his life to serving southern Minnesota and supporting the students of the 7 Minnesota State Universities.
As a student at Winona State University, Tim served as the first-ever lobbyist for MSUSA, advocating on behalf of students at the Minnesota State Legislature and the MnSCU (now Minnesota State) Board of Trustees.
Two years after graduation, Tim ran for office and won. He served in the Minnesota State Senate from 1976-1982, before running for U.S. House in 1982. Tim won the DFL nomination and, in a shocking upset, became only the third Democrat to represent the 1st Congressional District. He served as CD-1's representative until his retirement in 1983.
This fellowship supports the next generation of leaders and public servants like Tim Penny.
The Tim J. Penny Fellowship is an annual award granted to students from the 7 Minnesota State Universities who have demonstrated immense leadership and are interested in a career in public service.
The award from this scholarship ranges from $2,000-$5,000 for an internship at the state or federal level.
Internship sites include Tribal Government, Minnesota State Government, and Federal Government. Students have held a range of positions, from administrative internships with local tribal authorities, all the way to internships with legislators in Washington D.C.
To better meet student needs, we've changed the application guidelines and openings for the 2026 application year. Please check in in September of 2026 for more information!