The History of GFW Dollars for Scholars

 

GFW Dollars for Scholars originated in 1994, when the Winthrop High School Alumni Association elected to dedicate ten percent of their income for a scholarship fund for GFW students.  It was decided that this scholarship should be distributed by a separate organization that had representatives from all three communities.

A Board was formed with representatives from Gibbon, Fairfax and Winthrop areas.  It was this Board that elected to join the Dollars for Scholars umbrella in St. Peter, MN.

The Winthrop High School Alumni Association gave $500 in 1995 for the first scholarship which was presented to Gibbon resident, Joanna Monson.

Each year, thereafter, the organization has been able to increase the number of scholarships due to money received from the annual phone-a-thon, memorial gifts, business donations, individual scholarships, and interest on estate bequests. 

The GFW Dollars for Scholars program has received generous bequests over the years including one from Cornelia Malmberg, a Winthrop High School graduate (1923) in 1996.  An additional bequest was presented to GFW Dollars for Scholars in 2004 from Lydia Berger and her family. 

GFW Dollars for Scholars continues to receive donations in Memorial of family members and strives to honor their names through scholarships.