Scholarship Voice: Sarah Kessler

Growing up north of Grand Rapids, I became involved in clubs and groups around Itasca County at a young age. Joining 4-H in second grade, Girl Scouts in sixth grade, and a few sports along the way, I learned to love getting out into the community and making an impact. By the time I was moving away from the Itasca area to finish my degree after graduating from Itasca Community College, I knew the area would always be special to me. I still consider this community home, and I love coming back for community events and family gatherings.

I was homeschooled until the age of 16, when I attended Itasca Community College, now Minnesota North, Itasca. After graduating at 18 with associate’s degrees in arts and in business, I headed to Bemidji State University to earn my accounting degree with a 4.0 GPA.

My family has always been deeply intertwined in my educational path. My well-educated mother taught me everything I knew until I was 16, emphasizing reading and writing as a core educational foundation. This early education continues to serve me well in my professional career. Several professors at Itasca impacted my learning at a core level as well, teaching me writing and accounting skills that exceeded the education of my classmates at Bemidji.

My older brother attended college ahead of me and passed along the knowledge of the Blandin Foundation scholarship opportunity. I applied with gusto, just as I applied to every scholarship opportunity I could find at the time. I was determined to not take on student debt in two ways: by choosing to attend an affordable university where all of my previous credits transferred, and by applying for every scholarship I could.

The Blandin Foundation scholarship truly propelled my educational journey. As the largest single scholarship I ever received, it enabled me to pursue my educational goals without fear of student debt. Once I got my feet under me at Bemidji State, I realized how impactful the Blandin Foundation scholarship was to my successful start at Bemidji.

Currently residing in beautiful Duluth, I work in fundraising for Girl Scouts. It has been challenging to integrate myself into community here without many initial connections, but after a full year of living and working here, I can finally see my efforts paying off. I am a board member of the Duluth Public Library, a member of the Duluth Tenants Union, and an avid trivia player. My work with nonprofits and foundations in the Duluth area has also contributed to my feeling of connection through learning and supporting other nonprofits in the community.