Purpose The Robert Justice Memorial Scholarship was established in 2026 by his family to honor his legacy and support student athletes.
Bob was a life-long resident of Austin who had a long and successful career with Hormel Foods Corporation. His wife, Sharon, and his two children, Steve Justice and Pam (Justice) Gilliland and their children and grandchildren were the greatest joys of his life. Bob was also an avid supporter of Austin Packer sports, especially the basketball teams.
Scholarship Eligibility Graduating seniors from Austin High School with at least a 3.0 grade point average. Applicants also need to demonstrate participation on at least one varsity Austin Packer sports team.
Timeline Scholarship applications are open from March 1 at midnight to April 30 at 11:59pm of each year. The evaluation committee will review applications in May. Scholarship recipient will be contacted by June 15. One award of $1,000 will be provided to one student. All money will be paid directly to the academic institution at which the student is enrolled.
Purpose The Carl and Stella Ruzek Scholarship Fund was established in 2005, by their sons Michael, David, and Daniel, to honor and recognize their parents’ belief in the importance of education.
Growing up on farms and enduring the Great Depression, family obligations did not allow them the opportunity to earn high school degrees. They were married at the start of World War II, where Carl served in the South Pacific theater. After the war, they raised a family. Because they valued education, they worked to provide strong support so their sons could obtain college degrees.
Hard work and caring for others exemplified how they lived their lives. Respect for elders was a cornerstone. Therefore, various forms of community service are an integral aspect of qualifying for this scholarship.
The three sons are graduates of Austin High School (AHS) and are pleased to provide this scholarship to a deserving AHS graduate who plans on furthering their education.
Scholarship Eligibility This scholarship has two paths to eligibility: 1) students who are seniors at Austin High School, have a 2.5 G.P.A., and will attend in a four-year college/university the fall after graduation, or 2) students who are graduates of Austin High School, have a 2.5 G.P.A., and are currently enrolled in a four-year college/university.
Primary considerations for this scholarship are community service involvement and financial need. Nontraditional students are welcome to apply.
Timeline Scholarship applications are open from March 1 at midnight to April 30 at 11:59pm of each year. The evaluation committee will review applications in May. The scholarship recipient will be contacted by June 15.
One award of $1,000 will be provided to one student. All money will be paid directly to the academic institution at which the student is enrolled.
Purpose The purpose of the new fund is two-fold: 1) to encourage and support students desirous of a career in education; 2) to honor the careers and dedicated service to the cause of public education as represented by three outstanding educators and administrators: David Krenz, Don Fox, and Dick Lees. These three gentlemen devoted decades of service to the school system, earning the respect of the community and improving the quality of education in Austin.
Scholarship Eligibility Students who are graduates of Austin High School and are currently enrolled in a four-year college or university with a declared major in education will be eligible for consideration. Additionally, students enrolled in the Elementary Education joint degree program offered by Riverland Community College and Winona State University, its successors or related programs, will also be eligible for consideration.
Primary consideration will be based on financial need, but students must have attained a 2.75 GPA in their coursework through the time of application. Nontraditional students are welcome to apply.
Timeline Scholarship applications are open from March 1 at midnight to April 30 at 11:59pm of each year. The evaluation committee will review applications in May. The scholarship recipient will be contacted by June 15.
One award of $1,000 will be provided to one student. All money will be paid directly to the academic institution at which the student is enrolled.
Purpose The scholarship is created to honor the life and career of Rick Herreid. By training, Rick was an organic chemist who received his Master’s from the University of Wisconsin. Upon graduation, he began his career with Hormel Foods in their Research Development Department. He became the Director of Applied Research at Hormel Foods and received several patents for his work. After retiring, Rick was actively involved with the Science Fair Mentoring Project.
Eligibility: Students who are graduates of an accredited high school who are current residents of Mower County or graduated from a Mower County High School (regardless of current residence) who has a declared science major (chemistry, biology, physics) will be eligible for consideration. Primary consideration will be based on academic merit and scientific interest, but students must have attained a 3.5 GPA in their coursework through the time of application.
Timeline Scholarship applications are open from March 1 at midnight to April 30 at 11:59pm of each year. The evaluation committee will review applications in May. The scholarship recipient will be contacted by June 15.
One award of $7,000 will be provided to one student. All money will be paid directly to the academic institution at which the student is enrolled.
Please complete all required sections of the following application. Please note that all personal information will be removed from the application prior to review by the evaluation committee. The Austin Area Foundation will utilize a blind review process when accessing these applications.
