Scholarships Foster Study Abroad and Experiential Learning

Grateful for the positive impact UMN Morris had on their lives, Ron Lachelt ’71 and Cheryl Thornes Lachelt ’73 wanted to “pay it forward.” Both felt that they had received a strong liberal arts education at UMN Morris. “It’s helped us throughout our lives, both professionally and personally,” says Cheryl. Ron adds, “We feel that UMM is able to nurture and develop individuals into dynamic, caring, well-rounded, and socially conscious world citizens.” So they decided to give back to their alma mater.

To do that, they established the Thornes Family Travel Scholarship and, later, the Ronald Lachelt and Cheryl Thornes Lachelt Scholarship. The travel scholarship supports a UMN Morris student who is studying abroad for the first time, while the Lachelt scholarship is intended to help students reach their academic goals. The Lachelts are excited about the first Lachelt Scholarship recipient, Mckenna Domka ’25, a psychology major, being awarded the scholarship in 2022. “We’re so happy that the scholarship is being put to good use,” says Cheryl.

For both Ron and Cheryl, the decision to attend UMN Morris came down to size and reputation. Intimidated by the idea of going straight from high school to a large university, they were each drawn to UMN Morris for its smaller campus and academic reputation, along with the desire to earn a degree from the University of Minnesota.

Ron recalled how he didn’t think he’d be able to go to college because of his family’s economic circumstances, but with the help of loans, scholarships, and part-time work, he not only was able to attend college, but to focus more on his studies without the financial worry. The Lachelts want to help ensure that other UMN Morris students won’t have to worry either.