Harlan and Jeraldean Palm Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Central Minnesota Community Foundation

Harlan and Jeraldean Palm are leaving a legacy in Minnesota’s manufacturing industry after many years and successes with Palm Industries and the multiple companies under it. Harlan is a self-proclaimed gear head which he says is a “generic name for people who can’t leave things alone.”  For as long as he can remember he was always tinkering with things.  Jeraldean was also an integral part of the business.  She worked as a bookkeeper along with raising their four children and being involved in their church and community.   In 1970 Harlan started Palm Industries.  There have been numerous spin-off companies and various ventures along the way.  They have made grain bins, trailers as well as cabs and attachments for machinery.  By the late 1980’s Harlan expanded the business significantly through a deal with the Bobcat Company.  The Palms are proud of being able to create good jobs in their community.  Jeraldean has noted that it was not only Harlan’s salesmanship but also his management and treatment of employe
es that built a good reputation.  “It’s been a very fun business.  It didn’t even seem like work,” Harlan Palm said.

Available Scholarships: 4 – $2,500 per year Scholarships

Renewable: Yes, with proof of satisfactory grades

Eligibility Requirements

• High School Senior
• From: Litchfield, Atwater, Cosmos, Grove City
• Pursuing a degree that will lead to jobs in the manufacturing field industry including, but not limited to, machining, drafting, welding, engineering, metal fabrication or a degree in teaching industrial technology.
• Planning to attend: Two or four year US-based college (full-time enrollment)

Items you will need to complete the online application

• Application General Questions
• Essay: 1-2 pages double spaced: Why are you interested in entering the manufacturing industry? What segment of manufacturing will you be pursuing? Share your career goals after graduation.
• Statement of Need and Responsibility: Briefly share a personal, life, or family circumstance affecting your need for this scholarship.
• List of Activities for: 1) Community Service i.e. civic and church volunteer activities; 2) Extracurricular School Activities i.e. school activities that are not graded; and 3) Work Experience
• Electronic Transcript: High School Students: You must enter the email address of your guidance office into the application at least 5 days prior to the deadline. This will allow your guidance officer to add your transcript to the application prior to the deadline.

Other Notes: This is a multi-year scholarship if recipients remain in an approved field of study per scholarship requirements.