Scholarships and Grants Awarded

Investment in the Future

NDU Foundation announces recipients of 2020-21 scholarships and grants

In May of 2021, the NDU Foundation announced that 22 North Dakota United members and dependents of members had been selected to receive more than $20,000 total in scholarships and grants. “In the midst of a terrible pandemic, the NDU Foundation received a record number of applications for financial assistance from our members,” said Foundation chair Lisa Wolf, of Minot. “Our foundation board responded by awarding 22 worthy individuals with the help they need to further their professional career aspirations and follow their dreams. These funds will be an investment into the future, not only for those who are receiving a scholarship or grant, but for our entire state, and our system of public education and public services.” The NDU Foundation offers nine scholarship and grant programs currently, specially designed for NDU members and students. For more information about each of these programs, due dates and how to apply, visit our website at www.ndunited. org/who-we-are/ndufoundation. You can also make a tax-deductible donation to the NDU Foundation at that link.

Here is the complete list of scholarship and grant recipients from the NDU Foundation for 2020-21:

AMBER AUGUSTADT, of Bismarck, has been awarded the Joseph A. Westby Leadership Award from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Augustadt works as a field consultant for North Dakota United and is pursuing a Master of Legal Studies degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. PARKER BELGARDE, of Horace, ND, was honored with the Ethnic Minority Scholarship from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Belgarde is currently an undergraduate student at United Tribes Technical College, pursuing a degree in education.

JADE BOOTE, of Binford, was given an Education Scholarship from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Boote is an undergraduate student at Dickinson State University and pursuing a degree in business education.

CANDACE BRANNAN, of Bismarck, received the Ron & Ann Anstrom Scholarship from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Brannan has been a teacher for 21 years and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Arts degree in English Pedagogy from Murray State University. CAROLYN CARROLL, of Dickinson, has been given a Horace Mann ND Agents Graduate Education Scholarship. Carroll has worked as a paraprofessional and just finished her first year teaching in Dickinson, and is pursuing her master’s degree in special education, specific learning disabilities, from Minot State University. GRETCHEN DUNGAN, of Cavalier, was awarded an Education Scholarship from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Dungan is a freshman student at Mayville State University and working toward a degree in elementary education.

LAUREN FEIST, of Bismarck, received an NDU Member Dependent Scholarship. Feist is in her first year at North Dakota State University and is pursuing a degree in nursing.

CHANEL FJELDAHL, of Ray, was awarded with a Ron and Ann Anstrom Scholarship. Fjeldahl teaches grades 7-9 math in Ray and is on her way toward receiving a graduate degree in education with a concentration in mathematics from Minot State University. SAIGE FORSETH, of Hillsboro, was selected to receive the Cindy and Gary Rath Education Scholarship from the NDU Foundation. Forseth is a sophomore at Valley City State University in pursuit of a degree in elementary education.

GAGE GEHRING, of Garrison, was given an Education Scholarship from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Gehring is a freshman student at Minot State University and is pursuing a degree in elementary education. ANNA GOFFE, of Fargo, has received an Education Scholarship from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Goffe is double majoring in human development and family science at North Dakota State University and elementary education at Valley City State University. OLIVIA GRONOS, of Watford City, was selected as the recipient of a Mary Cripps Special Education Scholarship. Gronos is a junior and is double majoring in elementary education and special education at the University of Mary in Bismarck.

JAZMINE HILL, of Wahpeton, has been awarded a Cindy and Gary Rath Education Scholarship. Hill plans to major in elementary education at Valley City State University.

NATALIE HUNTER, of Cavalier, received an NDU Member Dependent Scholarship. Hunter will use this scholarship in pursuit of a degree in business administration at North Dakota State University. GRANT KRAFT, of Fargo, has been awarded a Horace Mann ND Agents Graduate Education Scholarship. Kraft is a middle-school teacher in Fargo and plans to achieve a master’s degree in youth development leadership from Clemson University. KELSEY KREIDT, of Mandan, was honored with this year’s Oban Special Education Scholarship from the NDU Foundation. Kreidt is a paraprofessional at Mandan Middle School currently and is pursuing a degree in special education from Bismarck State College.

MADALYN LAVALLIE, of Rolla, was chosen to receive an Ethnic Minority Scholarship from the NDU Foundation. LaVallie is attending Minnesota State University-Moorhead and wants to get a degree in early childhood education. BRAYLEE MALATERRE, of Belcourt, was selected to receive a Horace Mann ND Agents Graduate Education Scholarship. Malaterre is an elementary teacher in her second year and is enrolled in the master’s program at Minot State University to become a strategist. CASSANDRA MCWHORTER, of Dickinson, was chosen to receive this year’s Les Snavely Memorial Education Scholarship. McWhorter has worked as a paraprofessional in North Dakota, Wyoming and Texas, and is pursuing her degree in elementary education from Dickinson State University.

SARAH PEETERS, of Moorhead, Minn., has been awarded the Ron & Ann Anstrom Scholarship from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Peeters is a math teacher at Fargo South High School and intends to receive a math endorsement from North Dakota State University. TANA SCHAFER, of Flasher, has been awarded the Ron & Ann Anstrom Scholarship from the North Dakota United Foundation for 2021. Schafer works as the 7-12 science teacher in Flasher and is pursuing a master’s degree in secondary biological science from Western Governors University. PAT ROSE WALKING EAGLE, of Fort Totten, was selected to receive a Workplace Innovation Grant from the NDU Foundation for her proposal to provide school supplies and transportation vouchers to students in need. “The COVID-19 pandemic created many hardships on students in rural areas,” Walking Eagle said in her application. “The most needy were students who were eligible for the McKinney-Vento program through the Title I program. This is students who were and are homeless. … How can the students be successful when they do not have what they need to be independent and thrive? Helping them is key.”