Katherine Sammons

When I returned to school to at last pursue my dream of a PhD in support of herbal medicines, I had two young daughters in tow and had just separated from my husband due to his addiction struggles. With one daughter still in daycare the cost of living was simply more than my stipend. By two years into the program my financial reserves were completely drained and I was beginning to question if the financial feasibility of finishing would be worth it in the long run. The Macpherson scholarship came at a most opportune time, and it has eased our lives even more than I could have imagined. As part of that, the extra support has made it possible for me to afford additional childcare, allowing me to be a better student. Instead of constantly stressing over money I can turn my energy back to my work and my daughters.  

Receiving the Macpherson scholarship has helped me in other ways too. It is extremely validating to have someone's clear vote of support for you and your work, to feel like someone believes in you. This boost of encouragement was particularly welcome as I took my preliminary oral exam and transitioned from classes to the unchartered territory of pure research. It also gives me something to live up to: every other Macpherson scholar has finished her degree. In moments of weakness it's easy to consider finishing early with a master's degree, but after receiving this scholarship I would be letting down more than myself to do so. The extra level of accountability will help me persevere to my original goal of a PhD. I also like to think that pursuing my career goals helps me to be a good role model to my daughters, to show them that, even with a family to care for, it's possible to audaciously flout the easy path to chase your dreams and make a difference in the world. This scholarship helps to make all of that possible, and I am so thankful and honored to be a recipient. 

Katie Eschenbauch

I, like Carol, am a seeker. Her spirit embodies the strong desires that many women face at the prospect of returning to school after a gap in time. I worked in another field, I took time off after the birth of my child, but I continued to seek where my passion and desire led me too. I felt a calling towards the field of Social Work, the ability to build relationships, work towards social justice, and support others in their journeys was of great interest. A Master of Social Work would be a necessary step to move into this career field. Challenges existed for me when making the decision to return to school and obtain a graduate degree. I stayed at home with my child for a few years after his birth, struggled postpartum depression, and financing a graduate degree felt concerning. I knew I had a strong will and desire, so I put the wheels and motion, applied, was accepted and began my program in the fall of 2016. It has been a great fit, and a wonderful experience. With this scholarship, I can remove some of that financial stress. I am so grateful for this ability to continue with my education. 

Tonya Kjerland

Returning to school after almost two decades of being out of academia helped me become a more successful, self-actualized person. I believe it also inspired my children to achieve more than they would have otherwise ("If mom can do it...I can too!")  The Carol E. Macpherson Scholarship supported my achievement of a master's degree in Water Resources Science. Earning a graduate degree was a dream come true. It also led to my current employment as Director of Community-Based Service and Learning at Gustavus Adolphus College.

My graduate thesis was a project that benefited the public. I authored a standardized method for quantifying wild rice productivity; the first of its kind. Two publications that were the deliverables from this project, the Wild Rice Monitoring Handbook and Wild Rice Monitoring Field Guide are free for download from the Minnesota Sea Grant website. Demonstrating the power of diverse stakeholders working together for the common good, these publications have influenced Minnesota policy and hopefully benefited future generations. The Field Guide was sold out two years after publishing in 2015 and a new printing is currently in process due to the demand from stakeholders interested in preserving and restoring wild rice.

As a single mother of two children when I went back to school, financial support was critical to being able to accomplish my educational goals. The scholarship I received helped supplement my part-time work and student loans and reduced the burden on my family. Less tangibly but equally as important, the scholarship boosted my confidence in my choice to go back to school because it validated my experience. Few such scholarships for non-traditional students exist, and that sends a subtle negative message to potential students. The Carol E. Macpherson Scholarship sent a clear positive message about my educational journey, and helped transform my life.

Mary Jane Mansfield

Congratulations to the Macpherson family on the 40th anniversary of the Carol E. Macpherson Memorial scholarship! 

Thank you for the support. I literally would not have been able to stay in college to finish my degree without it. As a young adult, I was unable to complete my higher education. Life got harder and more complicated when I became a mother and the partner of an individual with mental illness. The dream of ever completing my BFA drifted further and further away. As the years passed, a window of opportunity opened for me to give it one more try. I was so close and worked so hard, but the reality was that the money just wasn’t there. 

Then the kind of magic that happens when you persevere against all odds happened. A friend of mine asked if I had ever heard of this scholarship. It seemed too good to be true, but I applied anyway and became one of the 347 scholarship recipients whose lives this has touched. It was truly the support I needed to make my dream come true!

Dec. 23rd 2016 at 6:45 pm, I finished my last exam to complete my degree. Two weeks later I was hired full time as the Public Art and Placemaking Co-ordinator for Hennepin Theatre Trust! After 20 years of driving for a living, I am finally able to use my artistic talent in a meaningful way that supports the careers of up and coming artists in our community. I would not be where I am today without your help. For this I am grateful and proud to support you in your future vision for expanding this scholarship fund.

Amber Ferguson

I received a Carol E. Macpherson Memorial Scholarship when I returned to school in fall of 2015. I had decided to pursue a master’s degree after having worked as a registered dietitian for seven years. I never anticipated going back to school so this was a big decision for me. My husband and I were, and still are, paying off our undergraduate loans and he was taking classes in pursuit of another degree as well. This scholarship certainly helped to support us financially, it took some of the burden off of us and allowed us to obtain a better work/school/life balance. 

The scholarship also helped me to feel supported in my decision to return to school later in life. Returning to school felt a bit intimidating at first but being awarded this scholarship meant that someone believed enough to invest in me! I am very thankful for this award and am now over half-way through my studies. I am hoping to graduate in summer of 2018 and keep Mrs. Macpherson’s legacy alive by using the knowledge this degree will provide through service to our community. I am moved beyond words by the generosity of Carol and her family.    

Nadia Pedersen

I grew up in St Petersburg, Russia, and moved to Minnesota with my family as a young adult. The 8 year long naturalization process was one of the most trying experiences I had ever had. In order to maintain my status as a qualifying candidate for U.S. citizenship I had to move back to Russia, leaving my husband here, and putting both our lives on hold. The opacity of the immigration system prevented us from making any long term plans. I had no idea when — if ever — I would be able to rejoin my family. We put all our money towards legal fees and hoped for a miracle. It took nearly three years for me to get a green card. During that time I missed the birth of my nephew, was stabbed in my sleep by a schizophrenic roommate, and had spent several months in public hospitals with minimal care. When I finally got a call from the U.S. embassy, letting me come back to the States, it sounded so unreal that I was convinced that my plane would crash.

When I re-entered the U.S., I wasted no time. I enrolled in school and immersed myself into life. I served in many student and community organizations, worked, made friends, and found my academic passion in STEM. My husband and I became parents, as we had dreamt for a long time. It was incredibly difficult to balance school, work, and family responsibilities, but this time we were not in a limbo of uncertainty because we had each other. Still, there were several road blocks we could not have overcome on our own. The daycare costs and medical expenses drained all our financial resources and by summer of 2016, I had no means for paying tuition. It was devastating to consider dropping out after everything we had been through, especially with the end in sight. I was incredibly lucky and humbled to receive the Carol E. Macpherson Memorial Scholarship, which allowed me to attend the final year of school. I am now graduating with a Bachelors in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Minnesota with a competitive GPA and a diverse skill set. The scholarship had a tremendous impact on my life, not only by lightening the financial burden, but also by sending a message of hope and the fundamental kindness of humanity. I am deeply grateful to the Macpherson family and will continue to strive for excellence and integrity as a professional, as a parent, and as a member of society to honor Carol’s legacy. 

Nan Thurston

It took me a while to learn this, but I have learned it well. I believe you can't be yourself at the expense of others, nor can you be for others at the expense of yourself!

I am true to myself no matter what. Each aspect is part of who I am,  a mom, a teacher, a lifelong learner, a loyal friend, a wife. I did this for myself, but also as an example that it can be done. I did it for my family, my daughters, and my sisters out there who are waiting for someone to believe they can do it! I find my work in Admissions at the University of Minnesota Crookston very satisfying. As a specialist in online admissions, it gives me to help others find their dreams. Our online demographics lean towards the non traditional student like myself.

As an update to how the scholarship made an impact in my life and my career, I am willing to share an excerpt from my goal statement that I wrote for my application to continue my education further:

"I have made the decision to do the work needed to attain my master’s degree; this would be a great opportunity for me.  I see this as a continuation of the process of directing my goals to an academic setting... My work in Admissions at UMC has been a valuable time in my life and I have worked with both online and non-traditional students as well as traditional students to help them achieve their goals.  My goal is to commit to the highest standards of student and colleague service in order to provide an experience of excellence that truly highlights what the University of Minnesota represents. 

With a Master of Education, I will have more opportunities to evolve my career, expand my knowledge and share my experiences. To continue to assist students to fulfill their dreams of a degree allows me to give back in a meaningful way. It is never too late!

At a point in time when I faced some changing life situations, I decided to go back to college and attain the degree that I had always dreamed of, but had put aside to raise my family and support my husband’s career. I have found it extremely rewarding and satisfying to reach this goal. It was often challenging as I still had children and responsibilities at home, but I was fortunate to have a network of support that sustained my faith in myself. Having completed my bachelor’s degree later in life, I have a strong appreciation for the value and opportunities that a degree can offer. I want to utilize that understanding in ways that make the lives of others better. I fully believe that I can best do that through the auspices of the University of Minnesota.

During my early years of college, I was blessed to receive the Carol Macpherson Scholarship award. The following is an excerpt from a letter of recommendation that I received from my philosophy professor Marietta Geray. I have kept it to remind myself of the efforts that my mentors put forth on my behalf and the gift of seeing myself through the eyes of another during a time when I did not always see it in myself.

“I was pleased to experience her strong sense of self, her self-reliance. I appreciated her ability to adapt to different situations. Nanette’s willingness to learn new ways of doing things is a lovely gift.

In general, Nanette treats the 'other' with deference, courtesy and compassion. In doing so, she honors the integrity, dignity and social worth of the other. I would say respect for dignity lies at the heart of her cultural competency skills.

Genuine depth of commitment along with excellence in the area of service are qualities she brings with her. Personally, I believe, Nanette would benefit greatly by being able to continue her education. She is a woman, I believe, willing to take on new responsibilities and explore new paths. I trust she has a thinking mind capable of asking difficult questions. There is every reason to believe she can live with the questions during this time of societal transition.” Marietta Geray

There is a quote from Tennyson’s Ulysses that encompasses much of who I have become; “I am a part of all that I have met.” (Joyce, 2013) Not all that I am now would have been possible without the width and breadth of my experiences. My life has been continually defined and re-defined and now is the time for the next stage of my journey. I am willing to make this investment in myself to realize my full potential, for myself, and for my children to know that it is never too late to go after your dreams and goals. Growth is not always easy, and it does not always come in the time that you think it will. I look forward to having the opportunity to learn with peers and mentors who hold a diversity of roles in higher education."