Attention Students: There's Still Time to Apply for an Eagan Foundation College Scholarship

The Eagan Foundation began facilitating the award of scholarship monies to high school seniors in 1991 and, to date, has awarded in excess of $750,000 to 800 students. 

This year, scholarships range from $500 to $2,500 and are awarded based on academic achievement and involvement in school and community activities as well as criteria specified by the businesses, foundations, or organizations that donate money to the scholarship program, for example financial need or career interest. 

There are 73 separate scholarships available. Some examples are:

• Delta Dental of Minnesota has been a program donor since 2001. This year Delta is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a student with a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) who is pursuing a career in the dental profession. 
• Minnwest Bank, a donor since 2006, is offering a $500 scholarship to a student with a demonstrated financial need.
• Dakota Electric, a donor since 1995, is offering two $500 scholarships to students with a demonstrated financial need and a GPA of 2.5 or higher who lives in Eagan and whose families are Dakota Electric customers. 

According to Patti Engel, current Eagan Foundation chair and local business owner, “Most of the scholarship donors have participated in the Eagan Foundation scholarship program for several years. The large number of repeat donors really demonstrates a commitment by local community leaders to the success of Eagan youth.” 

Gopher Resource has been providing scholarship money since the program's inception in 1991. This year, Gopher Resource is offering a $2,500 scholarship to a student with a career focus in environmental science or engineering. 

Chief Operating Officer John Tapper has met each one of the students the company has sponsored over the last 20 years and said, "It's exciting for us as a company to be able to provide that additional support for students who want to move forward in those areas that are so important to our business."

Tapper went on to say that he is hoping that "sooner or later, kids will come back and be long-term employees [of Gopher Resources]." Even if students who received a Gopher scholarship do not eventually becomes an employee of the company, Tapper is still gratified knowing they have helped provide great workers for other businesses in the community. 

Fortunately, students do come back to be part of the Eagan community: 

Jon Quesnel, a 2003 graduate, received a $1,000 Eagan High School Football Boosters Scholarship to attend St. Cloud State University and earn a degree in marketing. 

According to Quesnel, this scholarship "helped me as an incoming freshman, take some of the worry out of the financial stresses. It allowed me to make a smooth transition to college athletics and the classroom."

Lisa Piskor, a 2002 recipient of a $1,000 The Koch Family Foundation Scholarship, said that her scholarship "covered a large portion of my room-and-board fee for the first year of college. This allowed me to work fewer hours at my part-time job and focus on my studies. The Eagan Foundation scholarship gave me the sense of security and confidence that allowed me to flourish in my first year of college."

Piskor, who attended Coe College, double-majored in political science and French. 

Piskor said, "I didn’t realize how unique the Eagan Foundation was until I went to college and met other students my age from throughout the country."

Both remain active in day-to-day life in Eagan: Quesnel is an Eagan resident and serves on the Eagan Foundation Board of Directors; Piskor is employed by BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota in Eagan and participates in various community activities. 

2011 scholarship descriptions and application are attached to this article.