Scholarship Spotlight

Financial Advisor

Ben attended St. Olaf College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies Education. Ben is currently employed as a Financial Advisor and Field Director for Northwestern Mutual. In 2017, Ben received the Pepsi scholarship from the Education Foundation. Ben currently lives in Faribault, MN where he is active in his church as a youth minister and cantor. Ben also enjoys spending his free time weightlifting, playing piano, singing, and watching college sports.

“Being gifted money to my future education from the New Prague Area Education Foundation scholarship fund helped alleviate some stress I had regarding the financing of college. It helped me take out less loans and have more money available to me while in school so that I did not feel cash strapped or "broke" as a college kid.”

College Senior

Brooklyn is currently in her senior year of Nursing School at the University of Minnesota where she will earn a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing this spring (2023). Brooklyn received the Ed and Marietta Sharkey Scholarship in 2019. This past summer, Brooklyn had a full-time internship position in the Cardiovascular ICU at Children’s Hospital. Brooklyn’s future goal is to have a job in the Pediatric Critical Care unit upon graduation. Brooklyn is also involved in the Minnesota Nursing Student Board where I am currently the program director. I plan and organize career-based events for nursing students. In my free time, I enjoy being outside, spending time with friends and doing puzzles.

“Receiving a scholarship will always be incredibly humbling for me. I cannot express enough how honored I feel to be selected as a recipient of generous donors who value my education enough to tangibly invest in me and my future. I am forever grateful for the stress it has relieved, the freedom it has given me and the motivation it gives me daily to continue working hard in my studies. The less I worry about finances, the more I can focus on studying to be the best nurse I can be. Thank you so so much to all of the amazing donors and mostly to the Sharkey Foundation!”

6th Grade Language Arts Teacher

Alise is currently teaching 6th grade Language Arts in Fargo, ND public schools. Alise attended Minnesota State - Moorhead where she received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Inclusive Education along with an endorsement in Communication Arts and Literature. Alise also received her athletic coaching certification. In 2017, Alise received the New Prague Area Education Foundation Education Scholarship. In her spare time, Alise enjoys reading, traveling and catching up with friends.

“Receiving this scholarship meant so much to me. I was working four jobs at one point just to get me through payments each semester. It was wonderful having a foundation in my hometown support me through scholarship funds, it felt like they were rooting for me throughout my time at college.”