2006-2007 Recipient Updates

(1, 2, 3, Ashley Bremseth, Anna Sletten, Hannah Johnson, Carrie Evavold)

This is another in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2004 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 Ashley Bremseth

It's hard to believe that I will soon be completing my freshman year of college. Less than a year ago, I was eagerly anticipating more independence and new opportunities, knowing that there would be challenges and plenty of stress ahead of me. My experiences so far at Bemidji State University, both academically and socially, have been trying at times, but they have made my first year a positive, rewarding experience overall.

The biggest change I've had to deal with is living on my own. Although I miss my family at times, this has been a wonderful experience for me. Dorm life has been a great way to meet new people and partake in fun activities, but it is stressful when trying to study or sleep. I happen to be living in the "loud and crazy" dorm building on campus, but I like to think of it as the "fun and social" building instead. With my busy schedule, I don't spend enough time in the dorms to let the environment affect me much anyway.

As a double major in vocal and instrumental music education with a piano minor, my days are always full. When I'm not in class or in rehearsals, I spend a lot of time in a practice room. I'm left with just enough time for eating, exercising, studying, sleeping, and maintaining a healthy social life. To put it in perspective, a full time student at BSU takes 12-16 credits per semester. I am taking 22 credits, an average of 7 classes per day, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

One of my favorite things about BSU is having the opportunity to live on Lake Bemidji. It is absolutely beautiful in every season. I feel very fortunate that my dorm room happens to overlook the lake from seven stories up. Watching the sun rise over the lake every morning is a very peaceful experience. In the fall, walking down to the lake to study or relax was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. This winter, taking a walk on the lake has become a regular occurrence. Having grown up in Lakes Country, I feel right at home in Bemidji with the lake being such a prominent feature of the BSU campus.

I would like to thank my family, friends, and the entire community of Fergus Falls for continually supporting me throughout the years. I would also like to thank my teachers for preparing me and specifically my music teachers for showing me my potential and always believing in me. Finally, I would like to thank the Dollars for Scholars Foundation for their generosity and support in helping me achieve my goals.

Ashley Bremseth is a 2006 graduate of Fergus Falls High School and was the recipient of the Bechtel Memorial Scholarship. She is a freshman at Bemidji State University. 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 2004 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 Anna Sletten

I knew from the moment my Theatre 1101 class started that college at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities was going to be an interesting challenge. It was my first class on my first day of college and I was nervous to begin my journey at the U. My theatre professor was a worldly woman with enough experience to teach a class solely on stories of her life’s adventures. The first day she proposed to the lecture hall of one-hundred students that we simply get through the class by sitting back and watching others participate, or we challenge ourselves to stand up and take risks like we have never done before. Professor Kuftinec and my teaching assistant, Joanna, always used the word “risk” to describe what it felt like to step out of our comfort zone and try something new.

I felt like I had left my mark on the Fergus Falls High School and was ready for a new and exciting challenge, but the lessons that I learned during my first semester of college, in theater class and around campus, were nothing that I had prepared myself for. Each day was a new “risk” and I faced new challenges that I now understand to be what college is all about.

These challenges started the moment I arrived on campus. I knew as I moved into my dorm room in Middlebrook Hall that living with a roommate was going to be something new and exciting, but sharing a space with someone is an odd and enlightening experience. I have had to learn to maneuver around my room silently so as to not wake her up when she is sleeping and that she does not seem to appreciate a clean room in the same ways I do. Another example of a challenge I was not prepared for is University Dining Services. Each day venturing down to the dining hall is a new and exciting adventure, and most days it is a risk to take a bite of whatever it is that might be served that day. And every time a professor hands out an exam, I think of it not only as a challenge but as taking a risk to try my hardest to achieve a good grade.

Some days even walking throughout campus is an overwhelming task, but I have learned that taking the risk of smiling at a stranger can lead to a new friendship. And although living with a roommate is difficult, I have gained a new friend from it. I know now that I can use my colleagues at University of Minnesota, with all their diverse and different experiences, to expand my life’s adventures and stand up to take risks like I never have done before. I can walk across campus and hear several different languages being spoken and I now interpret this as a challenge to become a more culturally competent and well-rounded individual. I have decided that the only way that I will succeed in college is to choose my attitude and stand up and take these risks, even though I may or may not be ready for them. College has been a hard challenge, but learning and growing with people who were once strangers has been an experience that I will never forget.

These opportunities that I have had during this first year of college, whether it has been the leadership retreat I just attended, tours of art museums, or meeting new friends, have made me appreciate what professor Kuftinec said on the first day. All I needed to do was stand up and take risks like I never had before.

I now know that my experiences in Fergus Falls and at FFHS have given me the qualities that I possess to take the necessary risks to make my first year of college a success. I would like to thank the people of Fergus Falls, my family, teachers and classmates at FFHS, my coworkers at Herbergers, and especially Dollars for Scholars for believing I am capable of accomplishing great things at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. I am excited to continue to take risks and finish my freshman year at the U!

Anna Sletten is a 2006 graduate of Fergus Falls High School and was the recipient of the Dorn & Company,Inc. Scholarship. She is a freshman at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. 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 2004 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 Hannah Johnson

Greetings from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota!

Hannah Johnson, freshman, here, reporting to you from America’s Leadership University. First of all I want to thank the teachers of Fergus Falls Public Schools for preparing me for this extraordinary experience and the community of Fergus Falls and specifically the Dollars for Scholars Organization for making this journey possible! It’s hard to believe that in a few short weeks I will have completed my first year of college!

I’m taking coursework for a major in accounting and a minor in management information systems and have the honor of being a part of the Emerging Leaders Academy. Classes this year have included Principals of Accounting, Introduction to Computer Systems, the Writing Process, Elementary Statistics, Basic Catholic Beliefs, Geography, and Oral Communications. I’ve learned so much but more importantly, I’ve learned a lot about myself.

Here at U Mary, values reflecting the Rule of Benedict serve as our guiding principles. These values have helped me better understand my responsibility to myself, to the community, and to our Creator, as foundations to leadership development. They are integrated in every aspect of learning and living here to prepare me to spread my wings and soar into life!

When I moved into North Women’s Hall last August, I was quickly immersed into the Benedictine value of “hospitality” – being welcomed by other students, staff, and related service people on campus. Whenever I walk across the campus, there is always someone who greets me with a smile and a “hi”. I’ve met students and made friends from all over North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota as well as from every corner of the United States. The Benedictine value of “respect for persons” (recognizing the God-given gifs of each individual) is reflected in the many different thoughts and beliefs of the students and faculty. The classes here are small in size but huge in the ideas presented. The Benedictine value of “community” (supporting one another) is reinforced as I’ve had the chance to reconnect with upperclassmen from the Fergus Falls area too! (Thanks for the rides home!)

The Benedictine value of “moderation” refers to believing in the development of the whole person and seeking to practice physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness as individuals. Having been a member of the swim team, hockey team, and softball team in high school, I knew it wasn’t just coincidence that my work/study position is in the NCAA office. It’s been exciting to follow the college’s first year into this new conference and be a part of all the action! The campus of UMary overlooks the Missouri River and whether I’m working out at the field house or taking a run, the scenery is absolutely gorgeous and promises something new to see with each change of season.

It’s the Benedictine value of “service” (being of service to others through servant-leadership) that has given me numerous opportunities to develop skills I didn’t know I had. Through the Dakota Foundation, I volunteer to assist senior citizens with their budgets, checking and savings accounts, and tax preparation. Through the SPURS club, I’ve been able to work with children in an after-school program, helping them with homework and playing games and making things. As a member of the Pep Band, I’m still involved with the percussionists, playing the bass drum to the school song.

And finally, through the Benedictine value of “prayer” I have the opportunity to reflect on God’s presence in my life. Thank you Fergus Falls for your support, encouragement, and belief in me. You are appreciated!

Hannah Johnson is a 2006 graduate of Fergus Falls High School and was the recipient of a Dollars for Scholars Scholarship. She is a freshman at the University of Mary, Bismarck, ND. 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 2004 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 Carrie Evavold

I’ve always pictured myself at a major university. That’s why the University of Minnesota is a perfect fit for me. Its students’ and faculties’ outstanding achievements have drawn me to this school with a plethora of opportunities. There is a place for everyone at the U of M, whether you like sports, arts, politics, science, or pretty much any thing else.

I was a little apprehensive about attending such a huge, urban school. The sheer size of the campus intimidated me. Now I find that I like being immersed in such a large, diverse group of people and have the benefit of learning in various environments. The separate colleges in the U of M also offer a chance to become part of a closer knit community. I am in the Honors program in the College of Biological Sciences. The CBS has enabled me to become closer with my professors and fellow undergrads, including a chance to spend a few days last summer at their research station in Itasca State Park.

I am double majoring in GCD (genetics, cell biology and development) and physiology with a minor in psychology. My classes have been a little more intense than I pictured. These first two semesters were completely full with 18 credits each, mostly science courses. My heavy load has made me learn to organize and manage my time more effectively. The professors and teaching assistants are very helpful and love to help and visit with students. The University also offers many freshman seminars in the attempt to develop interest in different fields of study. I took one called Introduction to Psychopharmacology and another one dealing with the impacts of society on the advances in genetics.

College life is great! I made many good friends right away. Besides a semester in expanded housing, I have had many great experiences. I purchased Gopher Football season tickets and went to several other sporting events. I love the atmosphere of a Division I college and the experience of sitting in the Metrodome with thousands of people is unlike any other. In between classes, studying, and hanging out with friends, I also volunteer at the University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview in the pediatrics unit. I spend time with children in infancy to 3 years old. It is an amazing experience and has opened several doors for me.

I want to thank Dollars for Scholars for helping me to study at one of the top research universities in the world. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

Carrie Evavold is a 2006 graduate of Fergus Falls High School and was the recipient of the Theodore Paulson Memorial Scholarship. She is a freshman at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. For information on making a donation for scholarships, contact Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars, 1519 Pebble Lake Road, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.