For the past 35 years, North Star Credit Union (NSCU) has made an impact with youth education through its scholarship program. NSCU has awarded $33,200 to 59 students during that time period. In 1987, NSCU started by giving $300 to one student in its Cook branch and in 2020 that amount grew to $3,750 to seven students at four branches of Brooks, Cook, Duluth, and Nashwauk.

As the credit union has grown, so has its initiative to make a difference in the schools. For a decade the credit union had a financial education specialist on staff to deliver student education and events at area schools.

“We believe in our students,” said Jennifer Stedt, Executive Vice President for North Star Credit Union. “Providing financial education to students is a passion at North Star Credit Union.”

The credit union has been recognized statewide and nationally for their work with student education programs in the schools including the most recent award of the 2020 Desjardins Financial Education Award.

“The scholarships is another way that we can provide opportunities for our students and give back to our communities,” said Stedt. “It is the mission of the credit union to provide high-quality financial services and education to meet the needs of our communities.”

Current Scholarships Available

NSCU now offers scholarships in the amount of $500 open to the branches and areas served. There has also been a student intern scholarship in the amount of $750 to $1,000. This is another way the credit union works with the local school districts to provide on the job experience and career skills.

2020-2021 Scholarship Award Winners

Six area students received scholarships in the total amount of $2,500. Each receiving $500 toward their education.

• Taya Morinville of Red Lake Falls High School
• Olivia Danielson of Duluth Denfeld High School
• Connor Thennes of Greenway High School
• Abby Koch of North Woods High School
• Daniel Olson of Nashwauk-Keewatin High School

2019-2020 Scholarship Award Winner

Seven area students received a financial contribution toward their future educational endeavors. North Star Credit Union awarded $3,750 in scholarships for the 2019-2020 school year at each of its four branches of Brooks, Cook, Nashwauk and Northern Pacific-Duluth.

“We believe in our students. Providing financial education to students is a passion at North Star Credit Union. The scholarships are another way that we can provide opportunities for our students and give back to our communities. It is the mission of the credit union to provide high-quality financial services and education to meet the needs of our communities.”

Jennifer Stedt, Chief Operating Officer for North Star Credit Union

For the past decade, North Star Credit Union has had a financial education specialist on staff to deliver student education and events at area schools.

The credit union has been recognized statewide and nationally for their work with student education programs in the schools.

Six students from six schools each received $500:

• Brooks: Calyssa Eskeli
• Duluth: Henley Godnai of Proctor 
• Greenway: Hallie Shevich
• Nashwauk-Keewatin: Alexia Clusiau
  North Woods: Bethany Cotton of Cook
• South Ridge: Tristan Johnson
  

In addition, the student intern in the Cook branch received a $750 scholarship. That was awarded to Olivia Niska.

It’s another way the credit union works with the local school districts to provide on the job experience and career skills that students can take with them.

---

ALL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

1987 – 2021

2021 $500 Books-Kia Shayl-Lyn Bachand

2021 $500 Greenway-Emma Sutherland

2021 $500 Nashwauk-Keewatin-Kiara Clusiau

2021 $500 North Woods-Brynn Simpson

2021 $1000 North Woods Intern-Cole Thiel

2020 CALYSSE ESKELI-$500- Brooks

2020 HANLEY GODNAI-$500-Northern Pacific Branch

2020 TRISTAN JOHNSON-$500-South Ridge

2020 ALEXIA CLUSIAU-$500-Nashwauk-Keewatin

2020 OLIVIA NISKA-$750-Intern for North Woods

2020 BETHANY COTTON-$500-North Woods

2020-HAILE SHEVICH-$500-Greenway 

2019-BLAKE SCOFIELD-$500-North Woods

2019-MONTY NELSON-$500-Nashwauk

2019-GAVIN WANGER-$500-South Ridge

2019-MICHAELA STRAM $500-Greenway

2019-JORDAN DANIELSON-$500- Northern Pacific

2018-BRANDI STOUGARD-$500-Nashwauk

2018-DAYELISE MARIE DAVIDSON-$500-Greenway

2018-JORDAN DANIELSON-$500 Northern Pacific

2018-MARISSA BOBER-$500 -South Ridge

2018-XARI SIMON-MANKOSKI $750-North Woods

2017-KATE BEAUDRY $750-North Woods

2017-ALLI SANDBERG $750-Intern

2017-MAKENZIE SOKOLOSKI $750-North Woods

2016-TAYLOR MIDTHUN $750-Member wide

2016-BROOKE COTE $750-Intern

2016-BRENNA BRISTOL $750-North Woods

2016-ELIZABETH POSKIE $750-South Ridge

2015-LAURA LUDWIG $750-South Ridge

2015-NOAH SQUIRES $750-North Woods

2015-DANIE TAUSK $750-Member Wide

2014-JENNA NISKA $750-North Woods

2014-NATHAN LAND $750-Intern

2013-SARA LONGWORTH $750-North Woods

2013-LEENA HAUTA $750-Intern

2012-SHANE HALVERSON $750-Orr 

2012-SUMMER HUTTER $750-Cook

2011-KAYLEE MALMSTROM $500- Cook

2011-JESSICA SHERMER-$500-Orr

2010-HANNAH COWDER $500-Orr

2010-HOLLY RINNIE $500-Cook

2009-HAILEY WARZONEK $500-Cook

2009-ALICIA SOBYRA $500-Member wide

2009-ANGELA M SHERMER $500-Orr

2008-CALEB LEE GILLSON $500-Cook

2008-DRAKE DILL $500-Orr

2007-JESSICA LYNN MAULT $500-Cook

2007-BRITTNEY INGEBRETSEN $500-Orr

2006-JOHN REED-$500-Orr

2006-JOSH G GILSON-$500-Cook

1999-MARY CONGER $300-Cook

1995 CHRISTINE NOSIE $300-Orr

1994-SARAH WOLF $300-Cook

1993-JENIFER HAWK $300-Orr

1992-DANIEL SNIDARICH $300-Cook

1990-TARA CAVE $300-Cook

1989-DARLA FREYHOLTZ $300-Cook

1988-TERRY SEPPALA $300-Cook

1987-MICHAEL GUSTAFSON $300-Cook