Along with providing one-to-one mentor relationships for local youth, one of the main focuses of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota is college and career readiness, and helping youth not only prepare for their futures, but get excited about the future.
As part of its dedication to helping youth in Central Minnesota secure a brighter outlook for the future, BBBS is proud to award the Federated Challenge® Scholarship to graduates in the program. The scholarship, which is available exclusively to youth involved with the program as a Little or a High School Big, is awarded to participants who plan to continue their education in a non-four year post-secondary program at an accredited Minnesota school that is focused on apprenticeship, certificate, trade school, technical, or community college.
This year, more than $43,400 was awarded in Federated Challenge® Scholarships, bringing BBBS of Central Minnesota’s spring total to more than $45,000 in scholarships awarded to 14 individuals, with 13 of them Federated Challenge® Scholarship recipients.
The 2026 recipients of the Federated Challenge® Scholarship are:
Ashley Postle plans to attend St. Cloud Technical and Community College to a nursing degree.
Brady Salo plans to attend St. Cloud Technical and Community College and pursue a computer science degree.
Carter Wood will attend St. Cloud Technical and Community College to work towards a degree in psychology.
David Johnson will attend Minnesota State Technical and Community College and study HVAC/R.
Donovan Johnson is continuing his postsecondary education at Central Lakes College - Staples to become a diesel technician.
Isabel Heitzman plans to attend St. Cloud Technical and Community College where she will work towards a degree in elementary education.
Ivy Novak is attending St. Cloud Technical and Community College and working towards degree in dental hygiene.
Jenny Paulson is continuing her postsecondary education at St. Cloud Technical and Community College where she is pursuing a degree in psychology.
Katie Paulson is attending Ridgewater Technical College and pursuing a career as a veterinarian technician.
Khadan Abdi is continuing her postsecondary education at St. Cloud Technical and Community College working towards a degree as a sonographer.
Nevaeh Fleck is attending Rasmussen University College to study health information.
Quinton Borkenhagen will attend St. Cloud Technical and Community College and pursue a degree in liberal arts.
Sonja Counter will attend St. Cloud Technical and Community College and receive her general education degree.