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Hope Lutheran Church

Scholarships

Scholarship Notice:

The scholarship application deadline is April 1st.  Please have your complete application in the church office by then.  If you need another form, please email the church at hopelutheran87@gmail.com and one will be emailed to you.


Scholarships:

Hope Lutheran Church is proud to offer their graduating and post-secondary youth the opportunity to apply for the scholarships listed here. For more information on eligibility requirements, please click on the links to each scholarship below. Application deadline is April 1st.
Application form to be filled out. Click here to read a letter regarding scholarships.

Congratulations to Our 2024
Scholarship Recipients


Autumn Dovre - Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

Peyton Gillund - Lake Area Tech, Watertown, SD

Kayla Myhre - SE Tech, Sioux Falls, SD

Logan Myhre - SE Tech, Sioux Falls, SD

Ireland Stassen - SMSU, Marshall, MN

Thomas Belaen—Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown, SD

Landon DeSmet—Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown, SD

Jackson Esping—SMSU, Marshall, MN

Norah Fadness—NDSU, Fargo, ND

Tyler Gronke - U of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD

Ava Larson—SE Tech, Sioux Falls, SD

Cole Myhre—Mitchell Tech, Mitchell, SD

Ellie Pesch—NDSU, Fargo, ND

Nolan Boerboom—Grand Canyon U, Phoenix, AZ

Blake Reiss—U of M, Mankato, MN

Sydney Larson—SDSU, Brookings, SD

Ted Pesch—U of W, Stevens Point, WI

Henry Pesch—Online


Hope Lutheran Scholarship Application.pdf

HISTORICAL INFORMATION FOR HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOLARSHIPS

Because of banking regulations, please make your check to the Hope Scholarship Fund.
On the memo line, please state the specific fund to which you are donating.
 




Borson scholarship.pdf

Hazel and Albert Borson Scholarship Fund


Hazel (1914-2007) and Albert (1903-1991) Borson were lifelong members of Hope Lutheran Church. They enjoyed life on their farm and were committed to activities and groups of our church, as well as to Lutheran higher education. The Hazel and Albert Borson Scholarship is awarded to a college sophomore with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher who is attending a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Agnes Rye Scholarship


The Agnes Rye Scholarship was established in 1996 in memory of Agnes Rye (1905-1995). Agnes was an aunt of Donald Rye and her profession was nursing. According to established criteria, the recipient is to use the scholarship given in Agnes' name to further their education in a post-secondary institution in a health-related field.

Geiwitz scholarship.pdf

The Gary B. Johnson Scholarship Fund


The Gary B. Johnson Scholarship Fund was established in 2021. Gary grew up on the family farm of his parents Gordon and Alta Johnson, with brothers Glen and Gary. A strong belief in hard work and being involved in church, school, and community activities sparked a feeling of giving back. According to the established criteria of being a full-time student and maintaining a 2.0 GPA. Interest from the fund will go to a student attending a post secondary institution in a business-related, an agriculture-related, faith-related, or a health-related career.

Hope Lutheran Educational Scholarship


Hope Lutheran Education Scholarship, which included funds from other smaller donations, was expanded with proceeds from a $40,000 irrevocable trust established by Elmer M. Weltz (1898-1981) in December of 1966. Elmer was a retired farmer living on his 160-acre farm in near poverty conditions. His very humble surroundings were a matter of choice, while public and private agencies collected money each year. It was Elmer's desire that he use his life savings to help others, including the following four agencies: Hope Lutheran Church for two scholarships, State of Minnesota for wetlands acquisition and improvements, New Tomorrow Home, a home for the mentally-handicapped in Marshall, and Southwest Minnesota State College. Elmer also gave his land to St. Olaf College, who used part of the profits to provide for his living expenses. At the time of his death in 1981, Hope Lutheran Church was one of the benefactors of what was then a $48,000 trust. Once per year, a board would meet to decide how proceeds of the investment were distributed. The pastor of Hope Lutheran was a member of the committee for the trust. After years of mismanagement of the funds by various financial institutions, the fund was depleted. In a settlement in 2007, each of the benefactors received approximately $8,000.


Norman and Lillian Larson Scholarship


Norman (1919-2008) and Lillian (1920-2003) Larson were lifelong members of Hope Lutheran Church and involved in many aspects of church life, helping as much as they were physically able to do. The Norman and Lillian Larson Scholarship was established in 2009 by Roberta and Scott Josephson in memory of their parents and is to be used by a student to further his or her education in a graduate level, post-secondary program.

Geiwitz scholarship.pdf

Donald and Susan Rye Scholarship


The Donald (1920-1999) and Susan (1921-2003) Rye Scholarship was established in 1999. Don was a captain the U.S. Air Force in World War II. He was a farmer who was active in the Minneota community and Hope Lutheran Church, and served many years on the Minneota Board of Education. Susie was a nurse at the hospital in Marshall and they had six children. According to scholarship criteria, interest from the fund is given to a college sophomore desiring to further their education in a post-secondary institution in a business-related field, including business education and agriculture.

Rye scholarship.pdf

The Elmer Welz and Pastor John Thorstensen Hope Education Fund


The Elmer Welz and Pastor John Thorstensen Hope Education Fund began in 1966. It was a collection of small donations over the years but was expanded with the proceeds from a $40,000 irrevocable trust established by Elmer M. Welz (1898-1981) with the help of Pastor John Thorstensen in December of 1966. Elmer was a retired farmer living on his 160-acre farm, living in near poverty conditions. His very humble surroundings were a matter of choice. It was Elmer's desire that he use his life savings to help others in some way. He chose four agencies to share this gift. Hope Lutheran

Church would award two scholarships, the State of Minnesota would get funds for wetlands acquisitions and improvements, the New Tomorrow Home for the mentally challenged would receive funding and Southwest State College in Marshall would receive funding. Elmer also left much of his land to St. Olaf

College in exchange for providing his living expenses. A committee to provide oversight for distribution of these funds was established. Due to lack of oversight from the 1990s and into 2006, the fund was depleted. A settlement was reached in 2007, with each of the benefactors receiving $8,000.This money was added placed in the Hope Education Fund. The fund was renamed in 2023 to reflect the historic start of the scholarship program.

Robert E. and Alice V. Geiwitz Scholarship


Robert E. (1922-1967) and Alice V. (1922-2008) Geiwitz Scholarship fund was established in 1992 by Alan Geiwitz in memory of his parents. Robert served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked at Geiwitz & Company, a John Deere implement dealer in Minneota until he died of cancer at age 44. Alice, commonly referred to as "Gussie", was a teacher and active in community projects and organizations. Robert's death in 1967 left her a single parent who raised their three children ranging in age from ten to sixteen. Both were very involved in the life of Hope Lutheran Church and active members. According to criteria established by Alan, interest from this fund is to be used by a prospective student who is faithful in attendance and active in church activities to further their education in a post-secondary institution.