Albert H. Roffers Athletic Scholarship helps graduating senior athletes at Ashland High School. Students may use the scholarship at any accredited college, university, technical school or vocational school. Ronald and Gary J. Roffers created the scholarship to honor their father, Albert, a lifelong resident of Ashland who started Roffers Construction. He was a fixture in many local organizations and supported his high school’s sports programs.

The Allen Butler Minority Law Enforcement Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to young people of color from Duluth to begin or continue law enforcement training at a post-secondary institution. Duluth’s African American Men’s Group established the scholarship in 1996 to honor Allen Butler, an officer with the Duluth Police Department for more than 20 years before he retired in 1996. He was a positive influence in the lives of many Duluthians

The Amelia and Emanuel Nessell Family Scholarship Fund helps students in financial need, with priority consideration to Jewish applicants. Jewish applicants receive priority, based on the wishes of the scholarship founders. In 1997, relatives of Amelia and Emanuel Nessell created the scholarship as a memorial to the couple. The Nessells moved to Duluth in 1920, and Emanuel served as a manager for the First Street Department Store. Their four children, Sophie, Leonard, Louisa and Harry, attended Duluth public schools and graduated from Central High School. The family established the scholarship because the Nessells valued higher education and helping students in financial need.

The Anderson Niskanen Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for graduating seniors from Duluth public high schools who are in financial need for post-secondary education at the University of Minnesota Duluth or the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Suama Niskanen Anderson established the fund in 1998 as a memorial to her husband, Elmer Anderson, and her sister, Saima Niskanen. The Andersons were longtime residents of St. Louis County.

The Barrows Family Scholarship honors the memories of Frank L. Barrows and Frank L. The scholarship was created by Frank II’s parents in 2014 to memorialize the life of their son. Frank and Frank II both were Eveleth natives and the family created this scholarship to give others a chance to follow their dreams.

The Bernard and Mary Brusin Scholarship was established in 1987 as a memorial to the Brusins, longtime Duluth residents. They recognized the importance of higher education and had a strong commitment to provide financial assistance to those in need. Respective of their faiths, the couple designated that the scholarship go to Jewish and Roman Catholic students.

The Bob and Carole Lent Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to students demonstrating financial need from area public schools who plan to attend a public college in the Duluth-Superior area. The scholarship is for traditional students as well as those who have been out of high school for a while. Preference will be given to students pursuing a career in a vocational or technical field, early childhood education or special education. Bob and Carole Lent were longtime Duluth Public Schools teachers. Bob worked primarily in vocational education and Carole in speech and language. They especially wanted to support students who experience challenges and may not be top academic achievers.

The purpose of the Bobo Kochevar Scholarship Fund is to assist graduates of Rockridge High School in attaining a degree from a post-secondary educational institution.

The Carol and John Lilyquist Registered Nursing Scholarship Fund covers a second year of tuition for a student enrolled in a non-baccalaureate degree nursing program leading to licensing as a registered nurse. Carol Lilyquist graduated in 1965 from the St. Luke’s School of Nursing, a non-baccalaureate program, and began a long career as a nurse. Her husband graduated from UMD in 1964 and earned his MBA in 1979. They created the fund from their retirement savings to help deserving nursing students prepare for productive, rewarding careers.

The Chief John Raaflaub Memorial Firefighter Scholarship Fund helps students from Douglas County pursue careers in firefighting, and especially at the Superior Fire Department. Applicants can be high school graduates or those who have been out of high school for a longer period.

Interested students should contact the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial Committee by visiting their website. Applications are available there, under the”Resources” tab. In addition to content and quality of the essay or other creative submission, the committee will judge applicants based on the level and commitment of their community through service and involvement. Responding to the tragic 1920 lynching in Duluth of three African American men, local residents in 2000 created the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial Committee and the First Street memorial. Realizing that education was a key to ensuring that such a tragedy would never recur, the committee created the scholarship, which was first awarded in 2005.

The purpose of the Cohen Gordon B Great Scholarship Fund is to honor the family of Judy Gordon. Judy Gordon spent her career working in the Duluth school district as a social worker and special education teacher. With a heart for the underrepresented and those who have faced significant challenges, it is Judy’s wish to assist students in completing a two-year or four-year education. This award is for students who show promise and tenacity, who have persevered despite challenging circumstances, and who may have been traditionally overlooked. This award shines a light on those in the periphery and says, “You matter, and I believe in you.”