Area students receive fall NCTC scholarships

Continuing its commitment to making a premier education accessible to all students, the Northland Community & Technical College Foundation awarded $139,546 in scholarships to students on the East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls campuses for the 2023 fall semester. Each student received between $250 and $2,500 to help finance their education at Northland.
The following local students received scholarships:
• Morgan Lindgren, Karlstad, Hartz Foundation Scholarship.
• Clara Turner, Karlstad, Minnesota Workforce Development Scholarship.
• Jace Pietruszewski, Strandquist, Spark an Arc and Minnesota Workforce Development scholarships.
• Ryder Blazejewski, Strandquist, Minnesota Workforce Development Scholarship.
Along with the scholarship opportunities available as a direct result of the Northland’s dedicated donors, two other initiatives within Minnesota will have the foundation funding and facilitate more than $272,046 in awards for fall 2023. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture launched a scholarship program for beginning farmers, of which nearly $60,000 was allocated to new farmers in the region who attend Northland’s Farm Business Management program. In addition, the Minnesota State Legislature has continued to fund the Workforce Development Scholarship initiative, with the foundation distributing over $130,000 of these funds to Northland students seeking an education in one of several high-demand career fields.
“We are so grateful for the generous contributions of our donors who understand the importance of investing in technical and transfer education,” said Foundation Executive Director Lars Dyrud. “These scholarships will make a significant difference in the lives of our students, helping them access the education and training they need to excel in their chosen fields.”
The scholarships cover a wide range of educational expenses, including tuition, books, and other related costs, and aim to reduce the financial barriers that students often face when pursuing higher education. Recipients were selected based on their academic achievements, financial need, and commitment to their chosen fields of study.
Northland Auto Body Collision Technology student Gunnar Sandeen of Oklee, Minn., said that the scholarships he received are paramount to his persistence through college.
“Without the scholarships, paying for my tools and tuition would have been a struggle. With this scholarship, I can stay on track and pursue something I am passionate about without worrying so much about being able to afford it,” Sandeen said.
Scholarships are offered each semester to current and incoming students in various programs at Northland. For more information about available scholarship opportunities, visit www.northlandcollege.edu/scholarships.
To learn more about establishing or contributing to a scholarship fund, contact Dyrud at lars.dyrud@ northlandcollege.edu.