Funding Students' Futures

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Decades of Service

1971 to Present

The Greater Denfeld Foundation was established in 1971 with a one-year scholarship for $150. From those humble beginnings, the Foundation has since awarded more than $7 million to deserving Denfeld students, helping to offset expenses directly related to post-secondary education.

Welcoming Support

Anytime

The Greater Denfeld Foundation is always accepting donations to support Denfeld students and their futures. If you would like to contribute to GDF Scholarship Awards or the GDF Memorial Fund,  which enhances students’ educational experiences while at Denfeld, visit the “About Donating” page.

OUR MISSION

The Greater Denfeld Foundation’s purpose is to support students of Duluth Denfeld High School by providing awards and scholarships to assist with expenses directly related to post-secondary education. In addition, donations are awarded to staff to provide valuable resources to enhance students’ high school educational experiences.

GDF Profile: Hauge Recipient Madison McKean

Foundation Stories

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High school student in a maroon cap and gown, symbolizing Greater Denfeld Foundation scholarships and awards

Scholarships & Awards

Each year, the GDF selects about 50 students for recognition with four-year renewable $3,000 scholarships and one-time awards of at least $2,000.

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Adult white female in glasses holding a stack of books, representing educational resources supported by Greater Denfeld Foundation faculty and staff grants

Faculty & Staff Donations

The GDF Memorial Fund provides valuable resources to staff to enhance students' educational experiences.

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Crowd of high school students sitting on gymnasium risers, illustrating the impact of Greater Denfeld Foundation scholarships on student support and success

Support Our Students

GDF Annual Awards: Contributions of any amount are accepted to fund one-time awards to deserving DHS seniors in various fields.

GDF Memorial Awards: With a contribution of $20,000 or more, a donor may create a named memorial award providing one-time annual donations of at least $1,000.

Renewable Endowed Scholarships: With a contribution of $1 million or more, a donor may establish eligibility criteria for a $3,000 named endowed scholarship, renewable for up to four years.

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Questions?

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WHAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY

“This scholarship has continued to allow me to reach my academic and career goals. I recently joined Atland Ventures a student-run venture capital firm at the University which has been an amazing experience. Next school year I look forward to studying abroad for a whole semester in France. None of this would be possible without this scholarship, I continue to be extremely grateful for this opportunity that was given to me.”
Senior high school photo of Elliana Jouppi giving her testimonial for the Greater Denfeld Foundation
Elliana Jouppi, Business Major
“This year I was involved in many fun activities ranging from TAing for a Computer Science II class to becoming the Association of Computing Machinery president at UMD. Thanks to your support I was able to do many exciting clubs and activities while feeling financially secure and not having to stress about my tuition. Thank you!”
Senior high school photo of Xander Schroeder giving his testimonial for the Greater Denfeld Foundation
Xander Schroeder, Computer Science Major
“Seeing everything work out, everything i worked for in order to finally be able to pursue my dream of mastering jazz and continuing the legacy of American classical music, I can't express enough how thankful I am for the opportunities I've been given. I try to sound formal for these things, but for real - thank all of you so much.”
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Chase Andersen, Music Major
“Over the past year at Mankato, I've had the wonderful opportunity to fly in some of the most advanced trainers available today. The difference between the planes at Mankato and at the Superior Flying Service where I trained before is incredible. This type of training will be enormously helpful with my career in professional flight.”
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Parker Ahlers, Aviation
“Having the scholarship allowed me to focus more on my coursework and not worry about being able to afford to continue my degree, and allowed me to join the university robotics team, which also taught me some useful strategies to apply to my courses. One of the experiences that stuck with me the most was the senior design project. It was a lot of verifying the design, troubleshooting unexpected behaviors, redesigning, more verification, and repeating until all of the issues were solved. It showed me just how much design and redesign goes into a project, and how much time they can take if there are substantial impacts from any outstanding issues with that design iteration.”
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Brandon Jahn, Computer Engineering
“… it is hard for me to pinpoint just one experience that stands out as the most noteworthy. In general, the best part of college was the personal growth that I experienced in my confidence and abilities. The scholarships I received allowed me to move away from home for college and this gave me the space I needed to try new things and meet new people. After graduation, I am coming back to Duluth with a greater sense of who I am which will allow me to better serve my community. I would like to express my gratitude for the work that you are doing and the resources you are providing. This allows students to get the education and experience they need in order to be in a position where they can use all of their skills and talents and hopefully make a positive difference in the world!”
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Emily Tusken, BS in Nursing
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