2006-2007 Recipient Updates

(1, Stephanie Quernemoen, Kayla LaPorte, Chelsea Sibenaller, 3, 4 )

This is another in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2006 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.

By Stephanie Quernemoen

College is definitely a new, but exciting experience. I am currently finishing up my first semester at Northwestern College in St. Paul, and it has been a great one. I graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, and I truly feel that I was prepared for this next step in my life, known as college.

I am majoring in General Business for now, unless I find a more specific business major that sparks an interest to me. I also have to take many general classes, which seem pointless at times, but I know they’ll help me out in the long-run. Being at a Christian college, we are also required to take a certain amount of Bible classes.

I am keeping myself busy with a full 18-credit schedule, which includes Old Testament Survey, Management I, Western Civilization, Finite Mathematics, and Introduction to Databases/Spreadsheets. Next semester I’ll be taking up 19 credits.

Living in the dorms, along with many other students, has definitely been a fun experience. The freedom we have is one of the most exciting aspects. However, I have also learned from my mistakes, and have used that freedom a little too much, which has resulted in staying up until the early hours of the morning to finish assignments and study for tests.

Along with all the fun and excitement, there are also challenges. In high school, procrastination wasn’t even in my vocabulary. Now in college, it has grown on me. After eating at a Chinese restaurant a few weeks ago and reading my fortune, which said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” I realized I had been doing the exact opposite, and needed to take myself back to my high school days.

Overall, college has been a great experience, and I want to close this by giving a tremendous thanks to the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars for all the encouragement and support. It has been very beneficial and greatly appreciated!

Stephanie Quernemoen of Fergus Falls is a 2006 graduate of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy and was the recipient of the Otter Tail Telcom/Park Region Telephone Scholarship. She is a freshman at Northwestern College of St. Paul. For information on making a donation for scholarships, contact Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars, 1519 Pebble Lake Road, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.

This is another in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2006 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.

By Kayla LaPorte

It was a choice between North Dakota and Wisconsin and I chose the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse. I have been telling people "I can't see myself anywhere else," and I find this to be true. I love the town of Lacrosse and the people that are a part of it. It is absolutely gorgeous with the surrounding bluffs and the perfect temperatures. It is the perfect size school for me. I wasn't looking for anything too big and I wasn't interested in anything too small and this school fit me just right.

School here has been amazing. It is definitely a turn from high school. There is so much more independence and it has been great getting to know everyone. I declared Biology as my major and hopefully it will help me on my path towards Physical Therapy.

My classes haven't been too difficult but they are bound to come. It is definitely a challenge and at times studying can be stressful but it's a good sort of stress. I have learned to better manage my time and I haven't spent as much money as I used to because I don't seem to have it.

Not too long ago I finished my first year of cross country. I honestly wish I would have done cross country in high school. It was a blast. I met many awesome runners and I am living with four of them next year in a house. I even experienced my first ten-hour road trip to Ohio to watch the national cross country meet. That was a great time.

I love hanging out with the people here because I feel like I have known them for years. I am looking forward to next semester and the years to come and I want to thank Dollars for Scholars for giving me that opportunity. I appreciate everything Dollars for Scholars has done for me and I am excited to see where it will take me.

Kayla LaPorte is a 2006 graduate of Fergus Falls High School and was the recipient of the Damien Jacklitch Memorial Scholarship. She is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse. For information on making a donation for scholarships, contact Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars, 1519 Pebble Lake Road, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.

This is another in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2006 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.

By Chelsea Sibenaller

I’ve heard it said that college is the beginning of a new chapter in life. Through my experience, I’ve discovered that this chapter consists of endless blank pages to fill. College provides me with an opportunity to dream up a future and make it a reality.

In my freshman year at North Dakota State University, I have been immersed into an abundance of new experiences. I have discovered the beauty of diversity among 12,000 plus students enrolled at NDSU. It is interesting to observe and become a part of the different ways that others think, learn, and interact together.

I am greatly enjoying the challenge that a college education presents. I find my Human Anatomy & Physiology class to be very interesting and I now have a much stronger appreciation for its complexity. Although there is little room for procrastination, the ability to choose a specific class, a major, and ultimately a future continues to motivate me.

Among the hours of classes and studying, a college experience is completed by the wealth of activities and organizations available. Every night offers activities that range from free movies, snow cones, and Super Bowl parties, to those such as horse-drawn carriage rides and ice cream outings. There are organizations for almost every interest, as well as the opportunity to create a new one.

College turns the page to newfound freedom and responsibility. There are so many choices of the people, places, and activities that can fill the pages of life. I look forward to making this chapter of my life a wonderful story to look back upon.

My first semester of college has proven to be a very valuable and influential experience. I would like to thank my family, friends, Dollars for Scholars, and the Fergus Falls community for their kindness and support in my collegiate journey. Their generosity has made a profound impact on my life and I am truly grateful..

Chelsea Sibenaller is a 2006 graduate of Fergus Falls High School and was the recipient of the Beverly Gerhardson Paulson Scholarship. She is a freshman at North Dakota State University in Fargo. For information on making a donation for scholarships, contact Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars, 1519 Pebble Lake Road, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.