Delmer E. Munkberg Scholarships & Dorothy E. Munkberg Scholarships (Endowments)
Picture 1: Delmer Munkberg.
Picture 2, left to right: Bud Parker is presented with a check from Dorothy Munkberg to endow the Delmer E. Munkberg Scholarships, 1990.
Picture 3, left to right: Current CI-DFS Board members Cindy Szafranksi & John Munkberg present a check endowing the Dorothy E. Munkberg Scholarships to former CI-DFS Board members Jimmy Lindberg & Brian Strike, 2009.
It was a midday symposium in 1990 that kickstarted our organization, led by a generous donation from Dorothy Munkberg, one of our founding members and benefactors. Dorothy, along with children John, Charles, Vera, Mary (and their spouses), sought to donate a sum of money to be used as a scholarship for a student at Cambridge High School (now Cambridge-Isanti High School), in memory of husband and father Delmer Munkberg, who passed away in 1986. Delmer was a member of the Cambridge-Isanti School Board and therefore passionate about education. After raising the scholarship idea with local attorney Bud Parker, a check was brought to then President of Cambridge State Bank, Robert Becklin. They decided to invite Cambridge High School Principal Harland Johnson to lunch where they would discuss the basis of what is known today as Cambridge-Isanti Dollars for Scholars. Since that bigger-than-just-a-lunch meeting at, "The Hawk," C-I Dollars for Scholars has provided almost $4 million in scholarships to CIHS grads.
That check from Dorothy and her children formed, "The Delmer E. Munkberg Scholarships," the first permanent endowment established in our community. Sadly, Dorothy passed away in 2008 at the age of 88. After her passing, the Munkberg Family endowed additional scholarships in their mother's honor, "The Dorothy E. Munkberg Scholarships." We are fortunate today for Delmer and Dorothy's son, John Munkberg, who has actively served on our Board of Trustees since 1997. So dedicated to our mission, in fact, that John used to drive his mother to her Dollars for Scholars board meetings. What a great son!
Thousands of Cambridge-Isanti students have benefitted from the Munkbergs' long commitment to education in our community. We thank the entire Munkberg Family for their vision, dedication, and generosity!
Isanti County Pheasants Forever Scholarship
Sheilah Thomas Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was created in loving memory of Sheilah by her parents, Tom and Helen Thomas, and Sheilah's brothers Sean and Kyle. They wanted a lasting memorial by which people could remember Sheilah after she tragically passed away many years ago. Both Tom and Helen worked within our local educational systems in Cambridge-Isanti Schools and at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. They believed strongly that education, training, and learning HOW to learn are all essential components of achievement in an ever-changing workforce.
Robert & Joyce Becklin Scholarship
Robert (Bob) Becklin was born in Cambridge in 1926. He was the oldest of seven siblings. Joyce (Hiljus) Becklin was born in 1928, also in Isanti County. The two became a couple at Cambridge High School, graduated, and were united in marriage at Cambridge Lutheran Church in 1948. They were blessed with three children: Barry, Bob Jr., and Janet.
Jane & Deane Skogman Scholarship (Endowment)
Jane Wainscott & Deane Skogman met in their early teens while in a 4-H program in Iowa. Their families kept in contact over the years as the couple took separate paths. In 1943, during the height of World War II, Deane joined the Army where he participated in the liberation of France. The following year, Deane sustained shrapnel injuries in Normandy and suffered trench foot (frozen feet) during the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken to a hospital in London where he received treatment for his wounds.
At the same time, Jane was studying at the University of Colorado. She got word that Deane had been injured, and began writing him letters. Their relationship grew through their writings.
Deane earned several medals including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, and was discharged in 1946. He came home and began pursuing a degree at Iowa State. By this time, Jane had graduated college. The couple were married in 1948, and Deane finished his studies in Dairy Husbandry, graduating in 1949. Education was very important to Jane and Deane.
In 1950, the couple moved to a farm East of Cambridge. The farm was located at the North end of Skogman Lake - so named for Deane's great-grandfather who settled there in the 1860's. How cool is that?!
The Skogmans went on to have five children - three sons and two daughters. Deane was an excellent farmer for many years raising hogs, dairy cattle, corn and alfalfa. He retired in 1996. Sadly, Deane passed away in 2013 at the age of 89.
Jane volunteered for several local organizations, and in 1973 she was elected to the School Board, becoming the first female Board member to Cambridge-Isanti District 911. She would go on to hold that position for 36 YEARS. In 1990, she joined the Cambridge-Isanti Dollars for Scholars Board of Trustees. Currently, Jane (age 96) is an honorary C-I DFS Board member who actively served our organization for three impactful decades. During that time, she helped to award scholarships to over 4,000 Cambridge-Isanti High School graduates totaling over $2.5 million!
Jane and Deane endowed two scholarships to our program: The Jane & Deane Skogman Scholarship and the Helen Wainscott Memorial Scholarship, in honor of Jane's mother who was passionate about home economics studies. Their hope is that these scholarships encourage students to pursue the education they need, and that those recipients go on to better their communities through service and giving.
Left to right: CI-DFS President Ray Hoheisel, George Lieser, Rebecca Lieser, CI-DFS Board Member Dan Fosse, and current C-I Schools Board Member Lynn Wedlund.
Rebecca & George Lieser Scholarship (Endowment)
This scholarship was established to encourage students to consider vocational and technical careers. Following military service, George worked for 39 years in manufacturing. Rebecca taught in the Family & Consumer Science area, mainly Food and Nutrition classes, for 34 years. 30 of those years were at CIHS along with a total of 41 years as the FCCLA advisor. This scholarship was established to be awarded to a student going into a career related to Family & Consumer Science such as teaching, culinary arts, nutrition, child care, interior design, textile arts, or to an FCCLA Member.
Left to right: C-I DFS President Ray Hoheisel, Sister Margaret, Sister Francette, and Lil'l Farm President Joe Foerster.
Lil'l Farm Scholarship (Endowment)
Lil'l Farm Children's Home's, Sister Margaret, presents a check to Cambridge-Isanti Dollars for Scholars President, Ray Hoheisel, to endow a $2,500 annual scholarship. With her was Sister Francette and Lil'l Farm President Joe Foerster. The non-profit Lil'l Farm, where the two Sisters served as foster parents for Isanti County children, was dissolved and sold when the sisters retired. The Lil'l Farm Scholarship will serve as an annual reminder of the love the sisters bestowed on the children they cared for at Lil'l Farm for 20 plus years.