WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Aleks Westlund
Mounds View High School, 2015
(BS) Business Finance  
Bethel University St. Paul, MN, 2019 

Aleks is currently entering his last year at Bethel University with a degree in Business Finance. He is very grateful for the DESF scholarship that has helped make his college education possible. He has had many wonderful opportunities at Bethel, and has loved his experience! He has enjoyed such things as singing on the worship team for chapel and Vespers, going on a mission trip to Honduras, working as an intern for Thrivent Financial, and is looking forward to his full-time internship this summer with US Bank. DESF has allowed Aleks to pursue these dreams without taking out as many student loans, and to be able to focus on investing in his future.  

Justine Perez
Roseville Area High School, 2014
(BA) Journalism, University of Minnesota, 
Minneapolis, MN, 2018 

Justine was one of our four 2014 scholarship recipients. We look forward to hearing about all the great things Justine is going to do and accomplish. 








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Mike Wahlstedt
Roseville Area High School, 2012 
(BA) English Education, Concordia College, 
Moorhead, MN, 2016 

Mike has successfully recorded his first music album and on his way to finishing his second album.  Mike is a member of Eagle Scouts. 

Maria Sweeney
Irondale High School, 2012
(BA) Accounting & Marketing Analytics  
UW-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI, 2016

Maria is just a couple of semesters away from graduating from UW-Eau Claire. Maria is spending her last spring semester studying in Florence, Italy and plans on returning in the summer to intern in the accounting department at Hormel in Austin, MN. In the upcoming fall, Maria will  finish up her degree while working at the campus library and as an  accounting tutor. Maria is a member of Beta Vpsilon Sigma and DECA. 

Josh Kowitz
Roseville Area High School, 2007
(BA) Vocal Performance, Lawrence University, 
Appleton, WI, 2012 
(MA) Cantorial Studies, Jewish Theological Seminary, 
New York, NY, 2020 

Since graduating from Lawrence University, Josh has been enjoying new educational ventures in New York. Presently, Josh is working as a cantor with the White Meadow Temple. This position is giving Josh the opportunity to lead services for Shabbat (Sabbath) and all the holidays. This summer, Josh will be participating in a clinical pastoral education program and visiting older adults in their homes. Next spring, Josh is planning on spending a semester in Israel polishing up his Hebrew and learning more about the day to day life and experiences of people in Israel. 

Peter Awker
Irondale High School, 2007 
(BA) Electrical Engineering (Major), Management (Minor), 
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2011 

Peter is a Electrical Engineer with Graco, Inc. in Minneapolis. 

Are​ you a past NSYF/DESF scholarship recipient? Tell us how you've been!