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A Michigan Technological University Student from Dollar Bay is among four Tech undergraduates who have received scholarships from the Annexstad Family Foundation.
Xena Cortez is a third-year scientific and technical communications major, who graduated from Dollar Bay – Tamarack City High School in 2014.
Cortez says the scholarship has opened several doors for her. “The Annexsted Family Foundation Scholarship has given me the opportunity to attend university and begin a journey of self-discovery that has brought out a passion for communications and aspirations I now can achieve with my education,” Cortez said.
After completion of her degree, Cortez hopes to work in public relations, motivational speaking, technical and science writing and science communications.
The Annexstad Family Foundation was established in 2000 to help aspiring college students. “We have long believed that young people are our future,” say Cathy and Al Annexstad. “By giving students who are the brightest of the bright the opportunity for a college diploma, we are giving our country a successful future.”
They credit the care and mentorship of the people in their small towns in Minnesota for helping them to become confident and productive people. They have chosen to pay forward their success by helping bring the power of higher education to others while helping ensure that these students can earn their undergraduate degrees as free from debt as possible.
In addition to financial aid, the Annexstad scholars are provided counselors who follow them through their college years and help them in whatever ways they can to ensure their graduation. They send care packages, make phone calls, meet them on campus and build trusting relationships with our college partners. “This way the scholar knows we are behind them all the way,” the Annexstads explain.
In addition to Cortez, the other scholarship winners are Ashley Brown, Michael McGee and Alyssa Smith.
