2015
2016
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS
The Gladys Olson Scholar
The Carole & Dwain
Petersen Scholar
Swetalina Das
Orissa, India
Major: Computer Information
Technology
Major: Electrical Engineering
“I am thankful to the International
Student Endowment Committee and
honored to be a recipient of this scholarship on Gladys B.
Olson’s centennial celebration. I would like to convey my
sincere gratitude to Gladys Olson for the scholarship, which is
helping students in need year after year.”
“I am excited and humbled to be
selected as the recipient of the
Endowment Scholarship . Besides, I am extremely grateful
and honored that the scholarship committee recognized my
academic excellence and achievement. This award allows me
to continue to achieve greater heights in my academic studies
and future work career.”
The Louise Steele Syverson &
Linda Steele Scholar
The Florence Sponberg Scholar
Siavash Sadeghi Sedigh
Auckland, New Zealand
Nibrasul Karim Nibras
Chittagong, Bangladesh
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Major: Electrical Engineering
“To give to a stranger that you
have not yet met is the definition of
generosity. It signifies the hope that one has for the progress of
humanity, and the confidence in those that make it happen. A
Big thanks to my donors from the bottom of my heart.”
“Do the unexpected for the result is
unexpected. You’ll be surprised how it
turns out!”
The Elizabeth Kearney Scholar
Sanat Lamichhane
Tilahar, Nepal
Major: Computer Information
Technology
“I would like to thank the scholarship committee and the
International Center for awarding me this great honor. It means
a lot to me and my family. The award is going to motivate me
and boost me up to pursue my goal.”
Ali Oku
Lagos, Nigeria
Major: Medical Laboratory Sciences
“I am very grateful to the Kearney
International Center and the
Endowment Committee for awarding
me this scholarship. It has shown me how connected I am to the
rest of the world and also encouraged me to keep pursuing my
dream of improving sanitation and healthcare in developing
countries around the world.”
The Mary Taggart Scholar
Mira Sainju
Kathmandu, Nepal
Major: Computer Information
Technology
“ I am thankful to the endowment
committee, Kearney International
Center and especially to my donor Mrs. Mary Taggart.
It’s a great honor to be a recipient of this scholarship. This
scholarship will definitely motivate me to work harder in the
coming days and direct my steps closer to my goals.”
Aynura Berdyyeva
Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan
The Beatrice & Joseph
Moosally Scholar
Major: Biomedical Sciences
“I am humbled and honored to receive
the Elizabeth Kearney Scholarship. I
offer my sincerest gratitude to the Scholarship Committee for
making my dreams come true. I assure you that your belief
and support will assist me to keep up my good work and serve
the community.”
The Dr. Kuhn H. Lee Scholar
The William Olszewski Scholar
Rodolfo Correa
Queretaro, Mexico
Major: Food Science Technology
“I feel so grateful to have been
selected as a Scholar! This award
will allow me to carry on my dreams.
I am honored for the recognition, and I want to applaud the
Endowment for the work, support, and trust in students like me.”
Okhumhekho Kassim
Benin City, Nigeria
Major: Biomedical Sciences
“I am honored to be granted the
endowment scholarship. I give thanks
to God for His Grace, to Gladys
Olson, Kuhn Lee, and the scholarship committee for their
support in acknowledging my hard work. This scholarship is a
great achievement that will further challenge me to achieve my
career plans”.
International Center
The Gladys B. Olson
The Waldo & Jean Jaax Scholar
Yahya Jabri
Khouribga, Morocco
Elizabeth & Wynn Kearney
Elizabeth & Wynn Kearney
International Center
250 Centennial Student Union
Mankato, MN 56001
507-389-1281 (V), 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY)
[email protected]
www.mnsu.edu/international
A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and an Affirmative
Action/Equal Opportunity University. This document is available in alternative format
to individuals with disabilities by calling the Elizabeth & Wynn Kearney International
Center at 507-389-1281 (V), 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY).
INTC23BR_08-15
International
Student Endowment
2015-16
PHOTO BY SARAH RUST SAMPEDRO
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Dear Supporters
of the Endowment
and of International Students:
The world is coming to our doorstep. For the last
few years increasing numbers of international students
have come to this
University, bringing with them not only their dreams
for the future but all the things that distinguish them
from others: their foods, their dress, their customs
and language and habits. They provide a rich soil
in which our own appreciation of diversity can
grow and prosper. This is why it has been such a
rewarding honor to have been chair of the Gladys
B. Olson Endowment for something like 16 years
because we get to award generous scholarships in
recognition of what wonderful talents these students
display, not just for their own benefit but for ours.
It’s been quite a journey and I’m especially
happy and proud to tell you that our Endowment
has reached the $1,000,000 mark, allowing us to
reward at least ten students each year with scholarships of substance. To realize that this Endowment
has multiplied a thousand-fold since Gladys Olson
made her first gift (of many) of $1000 to christen
the fund and to inspire others to follow in her lead.
Huzzah to Gladys. Huzzah to the students premiered in this brochure. Huzzah to the Endowment
Committee. Huzzah to the Development Office and
the many who support what we do.
Bill Olszewski
Chair, Gladys B. Olson
International Student
Endowment Committee
IN BRIEF
ENDOWMENT SUSTAINERS
•Since its inception, our Endowment has given a total of
226 grants, amounting to $304,640.
Future Annuities/
Bequests/Trusts
Beatrice & Joseph Moosally (B)
William Olszewski (B)
George & Nadine Sugden (B)
•HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE ENDOWMENT
It’s easy to give to the International Student Endowment in
any amount you’re comfortable with. Visit mnsu.edu/giving
for details, including a convenient online option. Just click
on “Make a Gift Now.” You can designate your donation
specifically for the Endowment by choosing “Other”
(under “Designation”) and typing in “International Student
Endowment.” It’s fast! It’s easy!
•Dr. Steve Stoynoff has been named the new Dean of
Global Education.
•David Gardner is the new International Student Advisor in
the International Center. He comes to us from Washington
State University
•In November, 2014, Vice-President Kent Clark awarded
trophies to Gladys Olson (President’s Circle, Outstanding
Leadership) and Bill Olszewski (President’s Circle,
Outstanding Support).
•The number of enrolled international students is nearing
1,100. This greatly increases demands on the staff of the
International Center.
•Bassam Al-Mohamadi, 2014-15 Scholar from Yemen, will
serve as Vice President of the Student Association this year.
•Beginning in 2016 there will an increase in costs of about
$340 for incoming students qualifying for in-state tuition.
•Plans are being made to provide a deserving incoming
student with a scholarship as an incentive to attend
Minnesota State Mankato.
2015-2016 ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE
Mira Sainju (Student Representative), Brenda Flannery,
Thomas Gjersvig, Jeff Halbur, Penny Herickhoff,
Sandy Hyde & Creighton Wersal, Rebecca Moore,
Bea & Joe Moosally, Ellen Mrja, Gladys Olson,
Bill Olszewski (Chair), Carole & Dwain Petersen,
Margaret Preska, Karen & Dennis
Sandersfeld, Joe Spear, Michael
Sponberg, Steve Stoynoff, Jo &
Chuck Syverson, Kathy & Roger
Taylor, Janet Wu (Member-atLarge).
$50,000+
Waldo & Jean Jaax Estate
Wynn & Ginnette Kearney
JoAnn & Charles Syverson
Mary C. Taggart Estate
$35,000 - $49,999
Gladys B. Olson
William Olszewski
Dwain & Carole Petersen
Florence & Raymond Sponberg*
$25,000 - $34,999
Francois & Jill Hamze
R. Wynn & Elizabeth Kearney*
Beatrice & Joseph Moosally
$10,000 - $24,999
Melvin Alms
Kuhn & Bang Lee
Jane A. Roberts*
Creighton Wersal & Sandra Hyde
$5,000 - $9,999
Viola F. Holbrook*
John Just
Jane & Mike Kearney
Iris Nigg Lundin & Vernard* Lundin
Clarence & Margaret Perisho*
Daniel & Margaret Preska
$3,000 - $4,999
Vickie Apel
Laurena A. Beadle*
Dale & Donna Hanke *
Ellen Mrja & Stephen Moline
Irene & Theodore Nydahl*
$1,000 - $2,999
Abdo Publishing Company
Anonymous
Bethlehem Women of the ELCA
William & Karen Bieber
Claire & Roger Bock
Antusa & Benjamin Bryant
Mary & Gleamon “Merf” Cansler*
Charley’s Restaurant
Consolidated Communications
(formerly Envenits)
Hsi-Chiung Chou
Thomas & Mary Dedricks
Claire & Hazel Faust*
Marjorie & Harold* Fitterer
Thomas & Leita Gjersvig
Govenaires Drum & Bugle Corps
Turgut Guvenli
Veda B. Halvorson*
Evelyn & Francis Hatfield*
Han-Way & Kuo Huang
Anthony & Mary Jaspers
Douglas Johnson & Lenore Else
Beneta “Bunny” Just*
Kato Engineering
Yi Lou & Fanny Chao
Cita Maignes
James & Kathleen Malcolm
Mankato Motor Company
Scott & Kelley Olson
Philip & Lorrie Oswald
Ki Kyung & Jeong Seo Park
Lucille Prinsen
Prudential Foundation
Fern R. Rosenquist*
Rotary Club of Mankato
Shyamal & Mary Roy
Dennis & Karen Sandersfeld
Eric Schultz
Jay Shahidi & Csilla Grauzer
Raymond H. & Florence L.
Sponberg Foundation
Mary & Clem* Thompson
Rebecca & Arnulf* Ueland
Cornelius & Phyllis Votca*
Lorraine Wright
Youwen Xu
Neil & Carolyn Yang
$500 - $999
Joseph & Meredith Abdo
Muriel & Arthur Berndt*
Best Western Hotel & Restaurant
Angie & Robert Bomier
L. Donald Bond &
Ruth Bristol Bond*
Muriel Buscher*
Jean & Robert Carlstrom*
Sung Cho
Ogden & Jane Confer
Andrew & Betty Een
Brenda & Joseph Flannery
FPX, LLC
Owen & Ruth Germundson
Great Ocean Insurance Co.
Jeff Halbur & Bonnie Bennett
Holiday Inn Express
Sheng-Hsing Hsiao
Kato Moving & Storage, Mayflower
Rea-Shen & Lilai Ko
Thomas & Joanne Lee
Donald Linder*
Joyce & Donald* MacRae
Diana & Henry Mar
Milton & Marion Mason*
Ethel Medalen
Ruth Miner-Kessel
Asa Ohlsson
Kenneth Pengelly & David Engen
Stewart Ross &
Elizabeth Lawrence-Ross
David & Donna Salsbery
Loretta Santacroce & Mark Hellrung
Lois & Arthur* Schrader
Thelma Lou Schroeder
Schwickert’s of Mankato, Inc.
Nithyanantha & P Sevanthinathan
Young-Chi & Ruu-Liang Tang
Narciso & Luth Tenorio
Timothy & Anne Violet
John Votca & Phyllis Catlett-Votca
Metone Wamma & Mary Wagner
Wells Fargo Bank - Mankato
Yu Wu
$1 - $499
576 Donors
*Signifies Deceased
~Lifetime giving based on
cash, stock & gift-in-kind.
2015 SPRING POPULATION STATISTICS
BIRTH COUNTRY
Antigua
Ivory Coast
30
& Barbuda
1
Jamaica1
Australia4
Japan27
Bahamas3
Jordan1
Bangladesh74
Kenya9
Belgium 1
Kosovo3
Belize1
Kuwait4
Britain2
Lebanon2
Brazil80
Libya1
Burkina Faso
4
Liberia1
Burma1
Macedonia1
Burundi1
Malaysia7
Cameroon11
Mali2
Canada18
Mexico7
China19
Moldova8
Colombia19
Mongolia1
Costa Rica
1
Montenegro1
DR Congo
2
Morocco3
Ecuador3
Nepal69
Egypt9
Netherlands5
Ethiopia11
New Zealand 1
Finland3
Niger2
France6
Nigeria49
Gabon1
Norway5
Gambia4
Pakistan27
Georgia1
Panama1
Germany12
Peru2
Ghana12
Republic of
Guinea2
Korea97
Honduras1
Romania1
India84
Russia7
Indonesia4
Rwanda2
Iran2
Saudi Arabia 160
Israel1
Senegal4
Italy3
Serbia1
South Africa
1
Spain4
Sri Lanka
25
Sudan2
Sweden1
Syria1
Taiwan1
Tajikistan3
Thailand1
Togo4
Tunisia4
Turkey2
Turkmenistan4
Uganda9
Ukraine3
United Arab
Emirates3
Uzbekistan6
Venezuela4
Vietnam14
Yemen4
Zambia2
Zimbabwe
2
TOTAL
Enrolled1044
Graduate245
Undergrad684
Optional110
Practical Training
TOTAL
Enrolled and
on OPT
1154