St. Cloud, Minn. – CommunityGiving and it’s partner foundations have awarded $373,000 in academic scholarships for the coming school year to students from across the region. Alexandria Area Community Foundation, Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, Central Minnesota Community Foundation and Willmar Area Community Foundation are all affiliates of CommunityGiving. CommunityGiving awarded scholarships to 123 students and has an additional 34 funds that gave over $153,000 to scholarship programs at high schools, technical colleges and universities.
“Scholarships are so important to help students attend college and achieve their dreams,” said Susan Lorenz, Director of Community Programs. “These scholarships are not only providing financial support but also conveying a message to the students from our donors that says ‘We support you. We want you to succeed.’”
CommunityGiving administers 86 separate scholarship funds that have been established by individuals, families and businesses to support area students in their educational pursuits.
Scholarship recipients for the 2018-2019 school year are (sorted alphabetically by town):
| Marissa | Kinzer | Aitkin | MN | $2,550 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Zachary | Zierden | Albany | MN | $1,000 | St Cloud Times SPARK Scholarship |
| Lindsey | Knoll | Alexandria | MN | $1,000 | Thomas J Reif Scholarship |
| Skyller | Schmidt | Atwater | MN | $1,250 | Adams Family Scholarship |
| Michael | Lambert | Atwater | MN | $10,000 | Harlan and Jeraldean Palm Scholarship |
| Jaren | Kaddatz | Atwater | MN | $1,000 | Harold E. Bjur Scholarship |
| Tyler | Kaisner | Atwater | MN | $1,000 | Harold E. Bjur Scholarship |
| Nicole | Lilleberg | Atwater | MN | $1,000 | Harold E. Bjur Scholarship |
| Jaren | Kaddatz | Atwater | MN | $1,000 | Marv Otto Scholarship |
| Daemon | Pierskalla | Avon | MN | $1,000 | St Cloud Times SPARK Scholarship |
| Michael | Bylander | Baxter | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Elizabeth | Staton | Benson | MN | $2,000 | Edgar Coryell, Clara Coryell, Grace Walls, and Richard Walls Scholarship |
| Jenna | Smith | Benson | MN | $2,000 | Edgar Coryell, Clara Coryell, Grace Walls, and Richard Walls Scholarship |
| Julia | Abfalter | Big Lake | MN | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Mallarie | Steffel | Bird Island | MN | $1,250 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Regan | McElfresh | Brainerd | MN | $1,000 | Garrison Area Scholarship |
| Emma | Peterson | Brainerd | MN | $1,000 | Garrison Area Scholarship |
| Matthew | Fabian Jr | Breezy Point | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Jake | Muhonen | Buffalo | MN | $1,000 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Ashley | Petersen | Buffalo Lake | MN | $3,550 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Cerina | Sor | Cambridge | MN | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Samuel | Hilbrands | Clara City | MN | $1,000 | Josh Palke Scholarship |
| Ellie | Thein | Clara City | MN | $1,000 | Josh Palke Scholarship |
| Olivia | Ruiter | Clara City | MN | $1,000 | Josh Palke Scholarship |
| Levi | Sparks | Clara City | MN | $2,000 | Josh Palke Scholarship |
| Jason | Matz | Clearwater | MN | $1,000 | David Torrey Memorial Scholarship |
| Rachel | Neugart | Cold Spring | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Andi | Hinther | Cosmos | MN | $1,250 | Adams Family Scholarship |
| McKenna | Mages | Courtland | MN | $2,500 | George and Shirley Torrey Nursing Scholarship |
| Joel | Smith | Darwin | MN | $5,000 | Harlan and Jeraldean Palm Scholarship |
| Allison | McGraw | Darwin | MN | $3,050 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Damian | Boberg | Dodge | WI | $ 2,000 | Michael and Karel Helgeson Generations Scholarship |
| Kayla | Nelson | Duluth | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Jamie | Schumacher | Eden Valley | MN | $1,000 | St Cloud Times SPARK Scholarship |
| Samantha | Coulter | Eden Valley | MN | $500 | Eden Valley-Watkins Area Foundation Scholarship |
| Janae | Gustafson | Ethan | SD | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Cody | O’Neil | Foley | MN | $1,000 | Cindy Zilmer Scholarship |
| Mitchell | Rothfork | Foley | MN | $500 | Lyle Freudenberg Scholarship |
| Mitchell | Trigg | Foley | MN | $500 | Lyle Freudenberg Scholarship |
| Shelby | Johnson | Foley | MN | $2,000 | Michael and Karel Helgeson Generations Scholarship |
| Emily | Odenthal | Foley | MN | $750 | Bill Rasmussen Memorial Scholarship |
| Rainy | Beehler | Foley | MN | $500 | Burton Olson Scholarship |
| Corrine | Werckman | Foley | MN | $350 | George Kinney & Eilleene Kinney Scholarship |
| Angela | Heck | Foley | MN | $1,000 | John and Joan Youso Wisniewski Scholarship |
| Brooke | McIver | Foley | MN | $1,000 | Leo and Agnes Bauerly Memorial Scholarship |
| Luke | Lorenz | Foley | MN | $500 | Severyn and Irene Youso Scholarship |
| Rachel | Simon | Foley | MN | $1,500 | Svihel Schaefer Scholarship |
| Jessie | Losinski | Fountain City | WI | $2,000 | Michael and Karel Helgeson Generations Scholarship |
| Amber | Cafferty | Fountain City | WI | $2,000 | Michael and Karel Helgeson Generations Scholarship |
| Ciara | DeLozier | Frederic | WI | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Meredith | Jacobson | Garrison | MN | $1,000 | Dr. “Eddy” Silker Scholarship |
| Maddysen | Boecker | Greenwald | MN | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Anna | Grimsgard | Grove City | MN | $1,250 | Adams Family Scholarship |
| Margaret | Meyer | Grove City | MN | $1,250 | Adams Family Scholarship |
| Samantha | Gilbert | Grove city | MN | $1,000 | Marv Otto Scholarship |
| Jordyn | Chafer | Hayward | WI | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Hannah | Haas | Henderson | MN | $2,500 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Madison | Husom | Hillman | MN | $1,000 | Dr. “Eddy” Silker Scholarship |
| Kyle | Keppers | Holdingford | MN | $1,000 | St Cloud Times SPARK Scholarship |
| Colby | Hubbell | Isle | MN | $1,000 | Isle VFW #2816 Scholarship |
| Brevin | O’Connor | Isle | MN | $1,000 | Isle VFW #2816 Scholarship |
| Maggie | Peterson | Isle | MN | $1,000 | Isle VFW #2816 Scholarship |
| Caleb | Erickson | Kandiyohi | MN | $500 | Dorothy Timm Meili Scholarship |
| Abbey | Schiefelbein | Kimball | MN | $1,000 | Wat-Kim-Valley VFW Post #5460 Scholarship |
| Haleigh | Winkelman | Litchfield | MN | $425 | Virginia Grussendorf Memorial Scholarship |
| John | Kiehn | Litchfield | MN | $10,000 | Harlan and Jeraldean Palm Scholarship |
| Dan | Schueler | New London | MN | $1,000 | Marv Otto Scholarship |
| Kellie | Schmidt | Onamia | MN | $4,000 | General John and Avis Vessey Scholarship |
| Morgan | Balder | Onamia | MN | $1,000 | Garrison Area Scholarship |
| James | Utke | Park Rapids | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Danielle | Novak | Park Rapids | MN | $2,000 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Jodi | Phillipp | Paynesville | MN | $150 | Eden Valley-Watkins Area Foundation – Gaspar Family Scholarship |
| Jesse | Marshik | Pierz | MN | $2,000 | Michael and Karel Helgeson Generations Scholarship |
| Sarah | Thommes | Pierz | MN | $2,000 | Michael and Karel Helgeson Generations Scholarship |
| Makaela | Turner | Ramsey | MN | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Drue | Schwitters | Raymond | MN | $1,000 | Josh Palke Scholarship |
| Kayla | Kahl | Rice | MN | $2,000 | Michael and Karel Helgeson Generations Scholarship |
| Margaret | Schmaltz | Richmond | MN | $1,000 | Christine Olivia Maul Memorial Scholarship |
| Margaret | Schmaltz | Richmond | MN | $1,000 | Wat-Kim-Valley VFW Post #5460 Scholarship |
| Brynn | Sauer | Richmond | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Maggie | Ericson | Rochester | MN | $2,000 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Emily | Wallrich | Saint Paul | MN | $1,500 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Tianna | Raden | Sartell | MN | $2,000 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Kayleen | Martins | Sartell | MN | $1,000 | Julie Ann Hanson Scholarship |
| Rachel | Taszarek | Sartell | MN | $1,000 | Julie Ann Hanson Scholarship |
| Terese | Dehmer | Sauk Centre | MN | $1,000 | Barbara Block Memorial Scholarship |
| Connor | Kockler | Sauk Rapids | MN | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Rylee | Hackett | Sauk Rapids | MN | $1,000 | Foley Area Foundation Scholarship |
| Catherine | Julius | Sauk Rapids | MN | $1,000 | Julie Ann Hanson Scholarship |
| Emma | Mader | Sauk Rapids | MN | $1,000 | Brian Klinefelter Law Enforcement Scholarship |
| Paris | Roberg | Spicer | MN | $500 | New London-Spicer Alumni Scholarship |
| Alanson | Cleveland | St. Augusta | MN | $1,000 | David Torrey Memorial Scholarship |
| Abigail | Ryan | St. Augusta | MN | $2,000 | Arlene Helgeson Scholarship |
| Elyse | Lewandowski | St. Cloud | MN | $500 | Dan Fouquette Scholarship |
| Linh | Nguyen | St. Cloud | MN | $2,000 | George and Shirley Torrey Nursing Scholarship |
| Nicholas | Linn | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | Miller Architects and Builders Industry Scholarship |
| Wil | Eckhoff | St. Cloud | MN | $1,200 | Paul Host Scholarship |
| Jennifer | Riedel | St. Cloud | MN | $10,000 | Terry R. Fox Scholarship |
| Linh | Nguyen | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | Theisen Family Nursing Scholarship |
| Shane | Leabch | St. Cloud | MN | $500 | Tom Pierce Optimist Scholarship |
| Sarah | Dvorcek | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | Andy and Carol Hilger Pro-Life Scholarship |
| Jessica | Lidberg | St. Cloud | MN | $5,000 | Ernest Morgan Memorial Scholarship |
| Luke | Casperson | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation Scholarship |
| Tyrese | Weathersby | St. Cloud | MN | $2,000 | Arlene Helgeson Scholarship |
| Daniel | Gottwalt | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Brady | Underwood | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | David Torrey Memorial Scholarship |
| Brianna | Rathbun | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | Julie Ann Hanson Scholarship |
| Erica | Smith | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation Scholarship |
| Andy | Nefs | St. Cloud | MN | $1,000 | David Torrey Memorial Scholarship |
| Nicholas | Gill | St. Joseph | MN | $450 | Dick and Dorothy Putz Scholarship |
| Morgan | Vouk | St. Joseph | MN | $1,000 | Brian Klinefelter Family Scholarship |
| Marisa | Gaetz | St. Joseph | MN | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Ashlee | Gibson | St.Cloud | MN | $2,000 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Allison | Grams | St.Cloud | MN | $1,000 | Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation Scholarship |
| Sara | Davis | Swanville | MN | $2,000 | Michael and Karel Helgeson Generations Scholarship |
| Lina | Vue | Tracy | MN | $1,000 | Rachuy-Tighe Family Scholarship |
| Alemni | Yiran | Waite Park | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Kya | Harding-Jornlin | Walker | MN | $1,500 | Ed Sauer Memorial Scholarship |
| Katie | Benjamin | Walker | MN | $1,500 | Virginia M. Twetten Scholarship |
| Eleanor | Hansen | Walker | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Kennedy | Schoenecker | Watkins | MN | $1,000 | Donald B. Schlangen Memorial Scholarship |
| Laura | Kipf | Watkins | MN | $300 | Eden Valley-Watkins Area Foundation – Fink Memorial Scholarship |
| Grant | Kahlstorf | Watkins | MN | $500 | Eden Valley-Watkins Area Foundation – LeRoy H. Nolan Scholarship |
| Jada | Jesberg | Watkins | MN | $500 | Wat-Kim-Valley VFW Post #5460 Scholarship |
| Sarah | Wirz | Watkins | MN | $500 | Wat-Kim-Valley VFW Post #5460 Scholarship |
| Lincoln | Anderson | Westbrook | MN | $1,000 | Rachuy-Tighe Family Scholarship |
| Getachew | Hundera | Willmar | MN | $1,000 | Dr. Austin and Muriel McCarthy Family Scholarship |
| Ethan | Haines | Willmar | MN | $2,000 | Bernick Family Scholarship |
| Sara | Miller | Willmar | MN | $500 | Dorothy Timm Meili Scholarship |
| Pah | Hah | Willmar | MN | $10,000 | Willmar Civic Scholarship Association – Dorothy Brown Scholarship |
| Cayle | Hovland | Willmar | MN | $10,000 | Willmar Civic Scholarship Association – Dorothy Brown Scholarship |
| Anna | Washburn | Winona | MN | $2,500 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
| Noah | Peterson | Young America | MN | $1,000 | Bill and Joyce Coborn Memorial Scholarship |
| Michlyn | Fisher | Zimmerman | MN | $500 | Evelyn Lenander Education Scholarship |
CommunityGiving is a collaboration of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. The core foundations working with CommunityGiving include the Alexandria Area Community Foundation, the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, the Central Minnesota Community Foundation and the Willmar Area Community Foundation. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers more than 700 funds totaling more than $140 million. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org.