Minot P.E.O. Chapter establishes Karen Olson Scholarship Endowment at Minot State

MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State University Advancement Office is proud to announce the Minot P.E.O. Chapter AG has established the Karen Olson Scholarship Endowment. The $10,000 gift will benefit Minot State female students majoring in medical laboratory science.

The P.E.O. International Sisterhood exists as a source of encouragement and support for women to realize their potential in whatever worthwhile endeavor they choose. Minot native Karen Olson was a longtime member of Minot P.E.O. Chapter AG.

“By the time I got to know Karen, she was retired but was a very active community person,” Rosie Winczewski, P.E.O. Chapter AG member, said. “When Karen passed away, she bequeathed to our Chapter some funds, and I was trying to think of a way to honor her for all the things she had done during her lifetime. The way to do that was to remember her through a scholarship.”

Olson passed away March 9, 2018, and it was her wish to support women in education.

“Because Karen lived in Minot, worked in Minot, since she spent her entire life in Minot, we felt Minot State University was the best place for something to be originated,” Winczewski said.

The gift will be matched with funds from the North Dakota Higher Education Challenge Grant Fund, growing the endowment immediately.

“We are grateful for the creation of this scholarship endowment by the Minot P.E.O. Chapter AG,” said Rick Hedberg, vice president for advancement and executive director of the MSU Development Foundation. “This scholarship will benefit students on our campus for generations to come, and it’s a great way to continue the legacy of Karen Olson.”

Olson was born May 12, 1940 in Minot, the daughter of Edwin and Genevie (Quarne) Olson. She graduated from Minot High School in 1958 and from the University of North Dakota in 1962 with a degree in medical technology. She returned to Minot, where she was employed at St. Joseph’s Hospital and later Trinity Medical Center for nearly 40 years. She enjoyed teaching and training many of the new med tech students going into her field of work.

The Minot P.E.O. Chapter AG was organized on March 20, 1948 and members celebrated the Chapter’s 70th anniversary May 2018. The P.E.O. International Sisterhood was founded Jan. 21, 1869 by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, Iowa. The sisterhood has brought together more than half a million women in the United States and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education while offering support and motivation.

About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.

Published: 10/08/19   


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