2025 AAUW Scholarship Recipients: Maria Ricks, Leah Kunde and Katie Holzner. (AAUW)
Fergus Falls, MN – The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has chosen 3 local women to receive its 2025 scholarships.
The first recipient is Maria Ricks. Ricks is a young artist who has donated her time and talent promoting community causes as she believes art raises the world up. Maria has been involved with the Lake Region Arts Council mentorship program and has interned at the Plains Art Museum. She will be studying Art and Graphic Design at Minnesota State University, Moorhead next Fall. In talking about art, Ricks stated, “art is my mentor, motivator and interpreter.” Fergus Falls AAUW is proud to be awarding Ricks the Georgia Nagatomo Dieseth scholarship which is to go to recipients interested in art and lifelong learning.
The second recipient is Katie Holzner. Holzner is interested in pursuing a career in conservation, as she states, “the natural world inspires me.” Holzner has been a youth leader at Yellowstone National Park for the park’s Youth Conservation Program and has volunteered for the United Prairie Foundation. During her high school years, she promoted the Trash Dash program raising awareness among her peers and inspiring her teachers. Although Holzner will be taking a gap year to serve within a bible community camp, she will then continue her education and use her scholarship to earn a degree in conservation.
The third recipient is Leah Kunde. Kunde is currently pursuing a registered nursing degree at Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Leading up to this, she has been a real estate agent and project coordinator, as well as a mom and community volunteer. Being an older, first-generation college student, she has earned the respect of her instructors who state she has an inquisitive and scientific mind. It is not unusual to find Kunde helping her classmates, demonstrating the passion to help others which is an important part of her chosen field of study.
As stated by Missy Mattson, chairperson of the Fergus Falls AAUW’s scholarship committee, “our world is in good hands as demonstrated by these recipients as well as all those who applied.”
All three women were honored for their scholarships at a banquet on April 28th.
AAUW hosts a Tour of Homes every other year to fund the scholarships, with the next tour scheduled for this November. The objectives of AAUW are to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research.
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