The Austin Community Scholarship Committee recently announced $50,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 25 students for the academic year that started this fall.

The students whom awards were made and their indicated college of choice includes:

Kelly Gray of Iowa State, Alex Thorson of University of Minnesota, Carlson, Lisa Stundahl of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Lindsey Halsey of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Jennifer Marx of St. Mary’s Winona, Erin Dankert of University of Minnesota, Duluth, Kaitlynn Larson of Ohio State University, Sydney Irish of Concordia University-Wisconsin, Daniel Gerlach of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Mollie Mickelson of Luther College-Decorah, Jenna Svoboda of Rochester Technical College, Lindsey McAlister of Riverland Community College, Margaret Handel of Hillsdale College in Michigan, Abigail Leif of University of Minnesota-Duluth, Brenna Nordeng of Wartburg College, Rayna Eckman of Riverland Community College, Cami Longueville of Winona State University, Katy Pfeifer of Winona State at Riverland, Joseph Aase of Minnesota State University, Mankato, Ruby Garcia of Riverland Community College, Katie Mullenbach of the University of Minnesota, Fernando Garcia of Winona State-Rochester, Gabriel Deyo the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Caleb Knorr-Franciscan the University of Ohio, and Meridith Mulhusen of Oklahoma State University.

With these announced awards, more than $852,000 will have been made available to students since 1962.

Sources of funds for the awards include former scholarship recipients, generous contributions from individuals, memorial gifts and estate bequests. Contributions also have come from local businesses and organizations, The Hormel Foundation, Hormel Foods Corp. and other companies through their matching gifts programs.

The scholarship program is carried on without significant expense, and most administration and professional services are donated.

Scholarships are available to students entering their junior or senior year of college or postgraduate study and to those who are candidates for a degree at an accredited college in the United States. Recipients may pursue any curriculum leading to a degree. Application must be made each year. Applicants or their parents must be residents of Mower County, London Township in Freeborn County, or Union or Otranto Townships in Mitchell County, Iowa.

To learn more about the scholarship program, or to lend financial support, send an email to austincommunityscholarship@gmail.com or contact Eric Vaughn, committee president, at 507-434-8504.

Current Committee Members include Craig Johnson, Lowell Foster, Patricia Stevens, Tom Sherman, Scott Richardson, Kathy Green, Robert Thatcher, Eric Vaughn, Brooks Holton and Alice Holst.