Erwin F. Bachler Memorial Scholarship

Recipient: Zachary Zangl

Major: Math Education
Hometown: Oshkosh, WI
Activities: I play football for the WSU Football Team and I am a member of the WSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Future Plans: Be a high school math teacher and football coach.
What do you like best about your major: The work can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding.
What do you like best about being a WSU student: The people at WSU are wonderful and kind.
Interesting Fact: I can do the splits.

Benchmark Electronics Scholarship

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. is a global leader in Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS). Benchmark Winona began operations as EMD Associates, Inc. in 1974, an electrical and mechanical design engineering firm. The Winona division grew into a full-service Electronics Manufacturing Services Industry (EMSI) provider that develops and produces electronic products in partnership with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and became a part of Benchmark in 1996. The Winona division also houses design services which support all Benchmark sites. Winona currently focuses on long-term partnerships with industry leaders in telecommunications, enterprise computer and peripherals, and medical device markets.

The Benchmark Electronics Scholarship is awarded to an incoming freshman pursuing a Statistics Major with a minimum ACT of 26 and high school class rank in the top 15%.

Recipient: Samuel Williams

Math and Stats Department Alumni Scholarship

Recipient: Austin Ellingworth

Major: Statistics and Mathematics
Hometown: Mankato, MN
Activities: My interests include biking, exercising, and Minnesota sports.
Future Plans: Graduate School for statistics or enter the workforce.
What do you like best about your major: I love my major because it allows me to apply math and numbers to solve my problems with many different contexts.
What do you like best about being a WSU student: The close-knit community that WSU fosters is very welcoming.
Interesting Fact: I have two middle names: James and Ernest.

Ormsin Gardiner Sornmoonpin Scholarship

Ormsin was born in Potaram, Thailand.  She received her Teacher Education Diploma from Suansunandha Teacher Training College, Bangkok, Thailand in 1952, her Advanced Certification in Teaching Secondary Education, Ministry of Education, Bangkok in 1957, B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 1957, and M. Sc. In Engineering, Theory and Practice in Automatice Control, University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, England, 1966.

Ormsin married Harry Gardiner in 1968 in Thailand. Her extensive teaching career started with being an educator in Thailand, continued at the College of Saint Teresa and Saint Mary’s University, Winona, MN and culminated with her retirement as Professor Emeritus from Winona State University in 2000.

Ormsin established this scholarship to encourage and motivate students in Physics, Math and Math Education Departments desiring to help students excel in the understanding and application of mathematical principles in the career of their choice. Throughout her teaching career, Ormsin has given generously of her time and students often speak of her kindness, patience and commitment to helping them succeed.

Recipient(s): Katelin Catton

Major: Double Major in Mathematics and Statistics 
Hometown: Mound, MN
Activities: My favorite thing to do is lay in the sun, I enjoy playing volleyball, and hanging out with all my friends of course!
Future Plans: I plan to be an actuary. Hopefully somewhere warm.
What do you like best about your major: I love the campus and all the people I've met here!
What do you like best about being a WSU student: I will be traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands over the summer for a faculty-led travel program!

Valerie Henry

Major: Mathematics: Secondary Teaching
Hometown: Fairbault, MN
Activities: During my time at WSU, I have been active with EMSP as both a member and mentor. I have also been very involved with Housing & Residence Life, where I have upheld five different leadership positions and represented WSU at two regional conferences.
Future Plans: After I graduate, I plan to teach in a low-income school and get involved with coaching or advising extracurricular activities. Someday I would like to further my education to earn a master's in leadership!
What do you like best about your major: What I like best about being a Math Education major is that it allows me to carry out my passion for both the subject of math and providing students with the best educational experience possible.
What do you like best about being a WSU student: I absolutely love how close the students and faculty are within the Math Education community. This has made my learning experience so much more valuable and has truly made WSU feel like a second home.
Interesting Fact: I love camping, hunting, and playing euchre with my family!

Lorena Jacobson Scholarship

Lorena was born and raised in Rochester, MN. She received her BS in Education from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She taught mathematics for 35 years in Milwaukee Public Schools.  Lorena spent her first five summer vacations at Winona State University to get her Master’s in Education. She stayed on campus one summer and enjoyed commuting from Rochester the other four: taking morning classes, swimming in Lake Winona in the afternoon, and studying in the evening. Lorena traveled to many regions of the U.S. and other countries.

Recipient: Kaitlyn Hennen

Spencer & Judy Munkel Scholarship

Spencer and Judy (Malmin) Munkel met by chance at Winona State in 1963 while both were students. Their relationship and their connection to Winona State has thrived over the years. Spencer grew up in Spring Grove and came to WSU because his older brother graduated from WSU. Spencer was comfortable with the small campus feel and the friendly atmosphere where many long-lasting friendships first started. Judy grew up in Savage and came to WSU because she had relatives who lived in Winona, and her parents suggested a small campus not too far from home.

In spring 1965, Spencer graduated with a bachelor's degree in math and a minor in physics and began teaching junior high math in Madison, WI. Judy graduated two years later with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. In 1969, Spencer earned an M.S. degree in education, with an emphasis on Math, from Mankato State University. The couple married as Spencer started his career at IBM in Rochester and Judy began teaching in the Rochester Public Schools. Judy pursued graduate courses at Winona State and the University of Minnesota and completed her master's equivalency in 1987.

Throughout their careers, Spencer and Judy maintained many of the friendships established while at Winona State and kept ties to the institution that helped them find each other.  "We both felt that the WSU experience totally prepared us to be successful in whatever career choices we made after graduating from Winona State."

In the early 1990s, the Munkels decided to formally recognize and honor their connection to Winona State University by establishing the Judy and Spencer Munkel Scholarship Fund through the WSU Foundation.  "While at Winona State, I received a scholarship that helped me," Spencer said. "Judy and I decided we were at a point in our lives where we could do something to help others."  Through additional gifts of their own and the benefit of the IBM employees matching gifts program, the Munkels' scholarship funds have grown significantly and have helped many WSU students achieve their educational goals.

"By making gifts to support WSU students, we know we are doing something for those who will come after us," Spencer and Judy said. "We are pleased to leave a legacy to support causes we value. Our hope is that many of the students who receive scholarships at Winona State University will eventually establish their own scholarship awards to help future students."

Recipient: Conager Mrozek Major: Mathematics and Mathematics Education Hometown: Rushford, MN Activities: Gym, fishing Future Plans: Graduate School or teaching What do you like best about your major: The faculty and students involved. What do you like best about being a WSU student: I like the area for the most part and the people. Interesting Fact: Avid musky fisherman.

Floretta May Murray Scholarship

Floretta Murray graduated from Winona State Teachers College in 1932 and immediately began teaching art at the Phelps Campus School. In 1941, Floretta transferred to the Winona State Teachers College where she became the department head. She is also responsible for developing the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master’s degree programs at Winona State.  Floretta also worked hard to create opportunities for her students outside of campus by establishing internships at the Minneapolis Art Institute, the Minnesota Museum of Art, and at the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. During her career, Floretta also taught at the University of Minnesota, Bemidji State University, Saint Mary’s College, and the College of St. Teresa. Upon her retirement from teaching in 1976 she was honored as Professor emeritus and was awarded the Winona State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1987. She also served as a WSU Foundation Trustee from 1985-1996.

Floretta was also a life-long member of Kappa Delta Pi (the international honor society in education), from which she received the national merit award for distinguished service to education in 1962. Floretta was a charter member of the Women Artists of America, served as an evaluator for the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and was a member of the American Association of University Professors. She was also a member of several Winona community and civic organizations.

Floretta’s artwork has been exhibited in all the major galleries and museums in Minnesota, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., and the Hampton gallery in London.  Her work is in a number of private collections in Minnesota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Michigan, California, Washington, and Kansas as well as the prestigious Benjamin and Abby Grey Foundation, the Charles B. Sweatt Collection, and a mural in the United Building Center’s administrative offices in downtown Winona. 

Recipient: Aaron Augustine

Recipients: Kaitlyn Hennen

Valerie Henry

Major: Math Education
Hometown: Warsaw, MN
Activities: I am currently a Resident Assistant in Haake Hall and will be returning as an RA in Prentiss-Lucas next year!
Future Plans: After I graduate, I plan to become a teacher and start working toward a Master's degree.
What do you like best about your major: What I like best about being a Math Education major is that it allows me to carry out my passion for both the subject of math and provide students with the best educational experience possible.
What do you like best about being a WSU student: What I like best about being a WSU student is that I have been able to give back for all of my amazing experiences by serving as an RA and striving to provide incoming students with as great of an experience as I have had.
Interesting Fact: I love to spend time outdoors, especially camping and hunting! 

Michael Holmblad

Major: Computer Science and Mathematics
Hometown: Faribault, MN
Activities: Math/Stat Club, Computer Science Club, running, and travel.
Future Plans: Some type of agency, grad school, game designer, or something cool.
What do you like best about your major: The professors and the opportunities they give us.
What do you like best about being a WSU student: It's small, but there is a large variety of people that I can meet and get to know.
Interesting Fact: I'm making a game that is a weird combination of the original final fantasy games and Pokémon.

Kimberly Lee

Stacey Miertschin

Fred & Sandy Olson Scholarship

Recipient: Emily Duden

Daniel & Christine Rand Scholarship

Daniel Rand went to Purdue in 1971 to major in Statistics, a degree which wasn’t known or desirable in the 1970s.  But he received a scholarship and work-study money from Purdue, and that allowed him to obtain a Bachelor’s degree and then a Master’s degree in Applied Statistics.  He worked at IBM for 17 years and was able to eventually get a position as an internal statistical consultant, a job that didn’t exist when he started at IBM.  Daniel left in a downsizing and returned to school at the University of Minnesota to get a PhD in Industrial Engineering.  His wife Christine continued to work at IBM and support his return to school.  Upon completion, Daniel landed a job at Winona State University to teach statistics. In recent years, his colleagues had the foresight to develop a new program in Data Science.  This seemed to foresee a future need, much like going into statistics in the ‘70s.  Upon retirement from his second career at Winona State after 16 years, Daniel wanted to help young people fund their education in these more expensive times.  “I want to encourage those young people to explore their interest in statistical methods, analytics, and data science.”

Recipient: Nina Horabik 

The Duane & Edwina Wolfe Math Education Scholarship

Duane spent the first eighteen years of his life on the family farm near Fountain City, WI. When Duane was a junior in high school he decided that he wanted to be a teacher. He always enjoyed mathematics so without reservation that was the subject he wanted to pursue. He graduated from Fountain City High School in 1956, married Edwina between his junior and senior years in college and received a degree in Mathematics from Winona State, graduating in 1960. In 1964 he completed a Master's Degree in Mathematics which was the result of a fully funded National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for three summers at Central Michigan University. That fall he began teaching at Winona State College. In 1968- 69 he was awarded a NSF grant to attend Indiana University to study graduate mathematics and statistics. He also did graduate work in mathematics at the University of Minnesota. He was awarded two summer NSF grants to continue his studies of graduate level mathematics at Rutgers University and Auburn University. After 30 years of teaching courses at all levels in the Mathematics and Statistics Department, he retired as Professor Emeritus in 1994. 

Edwina was born in South Dakota and moved with her family to the Fountain City area while she was in high school. She graduated from Fountain City High School in 1957 and attended Winona State College for one year. She returned to Winona State College in 1964 (with a 4-year-old at home) and graduated with Special Honors in 1968 with a degree in Elementary Education (and had 2 babies). She completed her Master's Degree in Elementary Education in 1971 at Winona State. Most of her teaching career was spent teaching first grade in the Winona Catholic School system. She also taught kindergarten, junior and senior high school mathematics and computer literacy and also ran the Learning Center at Cotter High School before she retired in 1995. She was an adjunct teacher at Winona State where she often taught Mathematics for Elementary Teachers. 

They now enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren and spending winters in Arizona. Duane was happy doing what he liked best, namely teaching mathematics and statistics for his entire career. Edwina also spent her professional career teaching so when Duane retired they decided to do something to promote quality teaching. It is their hope that this scholarship will help Mathematics Education students to achieve their goals.

Recipient: Dominic Fallico