Scholarship Voice: Samantha Hildebrandt

My roots are in Northome, Minnesota, where I grew up and graduated from Northome High School. I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and am still fortunate to call northern Minnesota home now that I live just 15 minutes away in Kelliher.

I first learned about the Blandin Foundation Scholarship through my high school advisor. I decided to apply because it was a scholarship created specifically to support students from our local communities. Opportunities like this are rare, and knowing there was an organization investing in students from northern Minnesota made a lasting impression on me. The financial support helped make higher education more accessible while also encouraging students to pursue careers wherever their passions lead—whether that means returning home to serve their communities or gaining experience elsewhere before bringing those skills back to northern Minnesota.

Throughout my educational journey, I was incredibly fortunate to have a strong support system. During high school, my local community and my English teacher, Michele Plotts, encouraged me to pursue my goals. In college, I received invaluable guidance from my academic advisor, Dr. Marzel Gray, and my internship supervisor, Dr. Amy Versnik Nowak. Most importantly, I couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of my family and friends.

The Blandin Foundation Scholarship provided tremendous financial support during one of the most uncertain times in my educational journey. As a 2019 high school graduate, my first year of college coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. When campuses closed, students were required to move out of the dorms and transition to online learning almost overnight. Throughout those unexpected changes, the scholarship helped ensure I could continue my education without the added stress of covering tuition costs. That support allowed me to stay focused on my coursework and ultimately complete my degree.

Today, I have the privilege of serving as the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MNPQC). In my role, I build and strengthen relationships with healthcare, public health, community, and family partners across Minnesota while also supporting the organization’s communications and outreach efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Outside of work, I stay connected to my community by supporting my fiancé in his volunteer role as a firefighter and helping with our family’s local HVAC and landscaping businesses whenever I can. Living and working in northern Minnesota has allowed me to stay rooted in the community that helped shape who I am.

As a Blandin Foundation Scholarship recipient, I am incredibly grateful for the investment the Foundation made in my future. Their support not only helped make my education possible but also gave me the opportunity to pursue a career that allows me to make a meaningful difference while staying connected to the region I proudly call home.

Samantha Hildebrandt
Northome High School, Class of 2019
University of Minnesota-Duluth, Class of 2022