The Austin Community Scholarship Committee has announced that scholarships totaling $42,000 have been awarded to 21 college students who have ties to our area, for the current academic year.

This is the 47th year in which such awards have been made.  With the announced awards, $613,435 will have been made available to established college students since the first awards were made in 1963.

The students to whom awards were made and the indicated college of choice include: Brittany Alms (University of Minnesota); Amanda Amick (Winona State University);  Ashley Bendickson (Northwestern College of St. Paul); Tyler Bergstrom (St. Cloud State University);  Joshua Gunderson (St. John’s University); Sophia Guyette (Luther College); Adam Huntley (Minnesota State University, Mankato); Ryan Huntley (Minnesota State University, Mankato); Brendan Kiefer (University of Minnesota Duluth); Eric Kiefer (Minnesota State University, Mankato); John Lynch (Briar Cliff, Sioux City); Alyssa Mehus (University of Wisconsin-Madison); Stephani Mohrfeld (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse); Brian Monson (Notre Dame); Kyle Rizzi (University of Minnesota); Chelsey Roberts (Marquette University); Nicholas Stackenwalt (St. John’s University); Crystal Stundahl (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse); Katelin Wilson (Luther College);  Megan Wilson (University of Wisconsin-Madison); and Nathan Wilson (Minnesota State University, Mankato).

Tyler Bergstrom is this year’s Steven Gill Memorial scholar.

Nicholas Stackenwalt is this year’s Philip Richardson Memorial scholar.

Sources of funds for the awards in 2009 include gifts by former scholarship recipients, Austin Rotary Club, the Steven L. Gill Memorial Scholarship Fund, Gwen Gislason Trust, the Hormel Foundation, Hormel Foods Corp. Matching Gift Program, Mike Ruzek, Thrivent Financial Matching Gift Program, Austin Area Foundation, memorial gifts and gifts from individuals.

The organization is a community-supported effort, a non-profit Minnesota corporation. An outstanding feature of this scholarship program is a component in which scholarship recipients are encouraged to contribute to the organization after completion of his or her formal education in the spirit of continuing the opportunity for future scholars of the area. Last year the program was administered at virtually no expense. All professional and administrative expenses were contributed.  All income available to the Committee is awarded each year.

The committee encourages anyone interested in learning more about the scholarship program, or to lend financial support to contact the Austin Community Scholarship Committee, 807 West Oakland Ave., Austin.