Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota awards one scholarship in honor of BriAnna Kruzel, a former Little and High School Big who passed away unexpectedly in 2013.
The recipient of this year’s BriAnna Kruzel Memorial Scholarship is Sonja Counter, who has been a Little in the program for two years. She graduated from Apollo High School and will pursue general education courses at St. Cloud Technical and Community College and then transfer to continue her education and pursue a degree in social work at another post-secondary institution.
“Being Little has changed my life a lot. I got to know someone who really cared about what happens to me. My Big Sister was always there for me she supported me, gave me good advice when I needed it and helped me to believe in myself and my choices. I learned how important it is to have positive role models and how much of a difference encouragement can make. I've also learned how to help others the way my Big Sister has helped me. BBBS helped me grow as a person and prepared me for the next chapter and I'm really thankful for the opportunity to be part of this program and definitely recommend it to many others,” Counter said.
The BriAnna Kruzel Memorial Scholarship is given in honor of BriAnna by her parents, Tami and Randy Kruzel, to keep her memory alive. BriAnna was active with BBBS and was named the 2013 High School Big Sister of the Year for her commitment to the program and her Little Sister. She volunteered with the Sartell Community Education, her church, and believed in loving each and every person she came across.