2023 Scholarship Winners

Adna Nur

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at St. Cloud State University

How would you change the world?

I'd help children with school, food and shelter.

A'Janae Jefferson

Graduated from Como Park Senior High School
Attending college at Alexandria Technical and Community College

How would you change the world?

One change I would want to make in the world is where people aren't afraid to wear what they want even if it's not trendy or popular.

Alexander Kaiser

Graduated from Fridley High School
Attending college at Minnesota State University, Mankato

How would you change the world?

I want to make the world a more positive place, we are surrounded by so much negativity and we need people changing the world day by day.

Alli Park

Graduated from Long Prairie Gray Eagle Senior School
Attending college at Central Lakes College

How would you change the world?

Someday, I would want more senior citizens and low income families to have better and cheaper access to dental health care facilities. Growing up, some of my family couldn't afford dental work and it made their lives more difficult and they felt embarrassed. I wanted to help them more than anything, and I hope someday I can make a difference for my family and other peoples as well.

Anastasia Menyongar

Graduated from Fridley High School
Attending college at Augsburg University

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in this world. To help make a better and effective area is to help individuals come to the United states. for a better life. I would like to be an (immigration lawyer) with spreading hope and light to the world. Trying to make it a better place for everyone to feel equal.

Angelyna Thor Saykao

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at University of St. Thomas

How would you change the world?

I would like to change the world to be less judgmental and instead more understanding. So many people are hurt and ridiculed due to pre-existing negative judgement from others, much of the prejudices being taught at an influential age. If the world was instead more understanding and accepting, and taught how to be more understanding and accepting, there would be less heartache and animosity from or towards specific groups of people.

Averey Vang

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

One thing that I would like to change is the ability to buy affordable single family houses for those that don't have the kind of income to get one.

Aya Ouazizi

Graduated from Armstrong High School
Attending college at Augsburg University

How would you change the world?

Make an impact in the reduction of human trafficking.

Bangaly Kaba

Graduated from Apollo High School
Attending college at Saint John's University

How would you change the world?

I'm going to build a web of people around me that feel accepted and cared about so they can achieve their dreams, because I don't have that right now. We go further when we're together and we know others care about us.

Bontu Milkeso

Graduated from Como Park Senior High School
Attending college at St. Catherine University

How would you change the world?

I would change how people other view each other.

Brandon Arroyo Galeana

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Dunwoody College of Technology

How would you change the world?

I would like to give more jobs to immigrants mainly Hispanics in the future.

Caley Coyne

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Augsburg University

How would you change the world?

More diversity in the education department.

Chiana Lor

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Winona State University

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world is to stop littering. I want to make sure that my friends and family and community don't litter either so we can all keep our planet and community a cleaner area.

Clara Johnson

Graduated from Brooklyn Center High School
Attending college at Minnesota State University, Mankato

How would you change the world?

Low income students get free excess to no tuition for college, and help girls in my country to better education.

Derrick Cox-Payton

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at Central Lakes College

How would you change the world?

I'd end racism.

Edgar Zapata

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Hamline University

How would you change the world?

I'd like to spread positivity.

Emann Parker

Graduated from Fridley High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world is the way that people love. Love isn't just being in a relationship with another person, love is patient and kind. Love doesn't hold grudges and is not jealous. I believe that if people truly loved one another, just as how they loved themselves, the world would change for the better. People would sacrifice what they have for the better of another person. People will show empathy towards others and not judge. People will realize that they are no better than the next person, because we are all imperfect. I also believe that people should love themselves because if you don't love yourself, how can you love other people. Loving other people isn't just showing affection, it's about never giving up on others and maintaining hope. Love endures through all, and I believe that this is what the world needs to change for the better.

Emma Schwinghammer

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at St. Cloud Technical and Community College

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world is everyone can get the chance to have a safe and positive education.

Emma Wylie

Graduated from Armstrong High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Duluth

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world is creating more unity, even if it's just for a moment or a day.

Favour Gerald-Ugwu

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Rochester

How would you change the world?

Reducing the mortality rate of black mothers during pregnancy.

Gao Vang

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at St. Catherine University

How would you change the world?

One change that I would to make in the world is providing others with support and confidence in themselves. I want to be able to lift others and help them make a difference in their lives or improve their quality of life.

Gay Paw

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at University of St. Thomas- Dougherty Family College

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world is peace.

Hleedra Moua

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

I would like to be able to spread kindness to the world and to also share love and empathy for others.

Hodan Ahmed

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at St. Cloud State University

How would you change the world?

I would love to help all the kids in the world have better opportunities in life. I want to teach kids that they can believe in themselves and keep going no matter what.

Htee Moo

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Bethel University

How would you change the world?

One thing that I would like to change in this world would be the differences between families of income. With more higher income, the lower income families tend to struggle more because of taxes and etc while families who makes more and like rich people don't necessary pay like taxes and etc. example like many celebrity. I feel like because of how the government system thing, lot of lower income families struggle which leads to not many children to attend college or chase their dream because of high cost.

Jakai Napier

Graduated from Fridley High School
Attending college at Century College

How would you change the world?

I would want to save as many animals as I possibly can, and help make millions of pet owners smile and trust that they don't always have to put their pets down.

Joann Zeah

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at St. Cloud Technical and Community College

How would you change the world?

I'd like to create more learning jobs for people.

Kanlaya Thao

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

Being able to make an impact on others and help them become who they would never expect to become.

Katelyn Lee

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Augsburg University

How would you change the world?

Expanding diversity in the field of education

Katlin Her

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

I would like to make people care for one another.

Kitana Ackerman

Graduated from Apollo High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

I would want everyone to see each others point of view, and learn to respectfully disagree with others, but understand someone else's perspective.

Kyaira Wilson

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Minnesota State University, Mankato

How would you change the world?

In all of my athletic years, I have never met an athletic trainer that looked like me. When I say "looks like me" I don't only mean one that's black, I mean female as well. You only see one or the other and it's important for young girls to see women in every job role. When I receive my degree, my plan is to come back to my community whether that is coming back to my high school or working in a facility close to it, and inspire young girls of color to excel in athletics, and show them that they can do and be anything that they want. I hope I can be a positive role model or mentor to show them that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve it.

Mabel Flores Briones

Graduated from Armstrong High School
Attending college at North Hennepin Community College

How would you change the world?

To change the perspective on the Latino community and how we are viewed.

Mariana Ramos

Graduated from Hiawatha Collegiate
Attending college at St. Olaf College

How would you change the world?

A change that I would like to make in the world is for all women have the same opportunities than men, since even though people would say that equality is better than 50 years ago, that doesn't mean that in today's day women have even opportunities as men, we don't have the same recognition, or even the same value as them.

Marjwok Omot

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

I would make quality education more accessible to those in marginalized communities. Knowledge is power. It is something that can not be taken away from you. Having access to adequate education can give you great opportunities to succeed in life, and for the next generations to come.

Melanie Yang

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Rochester

How would you change the world?

Change the mindset of people who are closed minded, have them understand and share empathy with others so miscommunication and misunderstandings wouldn't happen so often. Then this would make people less angry at eachother.

Miguel Popoca Flores

Graduated from Roosevelt High School
Attending college at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

How would you change the world?

I would want to eradicate the stigma that mental health has around the world and allow people to open up without the fear of being judged or invalidated.

Mohamed Abdullahi

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at St. Cloud State University

How would you change the world?

I would like everyone to hold hand of their siblings.

Najima Salah

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at St. Cloud State University

How would you change the world?

I would like to change healthcare for people around the world. Many people can't afford healthcare and I'd like to help them in some way.

Nancy Felemu

Graduated from Cooper Senior High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

The one change I would like to make is the mindset of humans so that we can all be better people.

Nay Seya

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Bethel University

How would you change the world?

Rachael Obregon

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at St. Cloud State University

How would you change the world?

I will like to provide health services for those that do not have the the opportunity of getting it. My goal is to become a Nurse, I'm bilingual and my goal is to provide good care for people who do not speak English. I come from an immigrant family, and this inspired me to do something to change the world. I will love to make a difference here in the United States and support our country.

Rahma Abdi

Graduated from Roosevelt High School
Attending college at Normandale Community College

How would you change the world?

One thing I would like to change in the world is making sure everyone is getting education. I want to go back home when I grew up and make sure my relatives and everyone back home are getting the education they need.

Robert Htoo

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at St. Olaf College

How would you change the world?

I would like to raise awareness for the Karen people (my people) who are struggling back home dealing with violence and war. I want to do as much as I can for them in any way I could and help them out as best as I can.

Sahra Abdi

Graduated from Como Park Senior High School
Attending college at St. Catherine University

How would you change the world?

I would like to change the way people judge each others.

Salia Abdela

Graduated from Cooper Senior High School
Attending college at Normandale Community College

How would you change the world?

Salma Hussein

Graduated from Fridley High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world is increasing access to important recourses like food, water, education, and technology even if just by a little it.

Samuel Pallansch

Graduated from Apollo High School
Attending college at Alexandria Technical and Community College

How would you change the world?

Make inspirational art that will change how people will view the world.

Sarah Chang

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at Concordia University, St. Paul

How would you change the world?

I wanna be a nurse, so with this I want to create a space that helps patients heals.

Sheng Yang

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at St. Catherine University

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world is fighting for women's right and equality.

Sophia Kufalk

Graduated from Technical High School
Attending college at St. Cloud State University

How would you change the world?

I want to become a quality history teacher. I would like to become the adult I never had the support from as a teacher to any one of my students, no matter the toil it requires.

Tania Quizhpi

Graduated from Edison High School
Attending college at Minnesota State Community and Technical College

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world would be to inspire individuals that ate pursuing college and that there's hope for them to pursuing education. I want to inspire young people as well because education can open many pathways for them. I hope that In my life I can accomplish those goals.

Tsion Kebede

Graduated from Cooper Senior High School
Attending college at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

How would you change the world?

Something I would like to do in this lifetime is bridge gaps. Whether it's between income and education, race and equality, healthcare and affordability, or many more examples, by bridging gaps I will help make this world a better place for future generations.

Valeria Barrios Sanchez

Graduated from Harding Senior High School
Attending college at University of St. Thomas

How would you change the world?

One thing I would like to change is for people to stop throwing trash in the ocean or leaving it in different places, instead pick up after their own trash, and put it in the garbage if they see one that is near them.

Yvette Fernandez Rojas

Graduated from Hiawatha Collegiate
Attending college at St. Catherine University

How would you change the world?

One change I would like to make in the world is making people happy, helping someones life be more bright. When people are happy it increases the persons mind to have a positive outlook on life, to be more optimistic. And how exactly would I personally do that? I want to built a career where I'm able to give because at the end of the day I know I went to work and improved the world. This connects to videos I have seen online, dentists going to a place around the world and giving children a brighter smile, or someone is able to get a person off the streets (improving their quality of life), giving a big donation to people, animals, nature etc. One day I will be fortunate enough to have the resources to help people. But for the time being giving someone a small compliment can change their day because you never know what someone is going through.