The Funds List
Over $7 Million in Scholarships to Denfeld Students since 1971
Thanks to the countless supporters who love Denfeld High School, the Greater Denfeld Foundation has many funds to supplement the great work of its students, teachers and staff. “As long as this school exists there will be people benefitting from the kindness of these graduates; that’s a pretty unique and wonderful thing,” Bill Westholm (Denfeld Class of 1966), Denfeld principal (1995-2005) and former President of the Greater Denfeld Foundation, referencing the multi-million-dollar gifts to the Greater Denfeld Foundation by Denfeld graduates Marie Saltwick and Armond Hauge.
Application opens on November 1, 2024
Applications will be closed on January 15, 2025.
Contact Lori Huska at lorihuska@gmail.com or call or text 218-340-5015 with any questions.
Renewable Student Scholarships
Both the Marie Saltwick and Armond Hauge Scholarships provide $3,000 renewable donations designed to support four years of post-secondary higher education for Denfeld graduates. Each year, these combined scholarships provide more than $100,000 for first year post-secondary education expenses for more than 40 deserving Denfeld graduates.
The eligibility criteria are similar for both scholarships
Applicants must have a 2.8 GPA to apply.
A minimum 2.2 (Hauge) or 2.6 (Saltwick) GPA must be maintained for renewal after year one.
Scholarships can be used at any accredited two or four-year college, university or vocational school. Scholarship recipients can study any subject. Financial need is not a consideration.
Marie V. Saltwick Scholarship
$3,000 | renewable | about 15 annually
When Miss Saltwick retired in 1971, she became a founding member of the Greater Denfeld Foundation, and served on its Board of Directors into the 1980s. A fellow teacher and Foundation Board member, Jean Endrizzi, said “Marie was very strict in her way. She was demanding, but understanding. If a kid had it, she expected him to perform. If he had lesser abilities, she saw to it that there was a way for that kid to succeed as well.”
Miss Saltwick lived in Duluth nearly all her life and did nothing extravagant. She never owned a new car and seldom traveled. At 80, she still mowed her own lawn. She led a life of quiet generosity and was always willing to give extra time for struggling students. At home, she cared for her older siblings as well as the parents of some of her colleagues at Denfeld. She was a smart, caring woman who never married and wasn’t one to cause a stir. However, following her death in 2001, Miss Saltwick did cause quite a stir. No one had any idea that she was a millionaire.
She had left most of her unknown fortune to the Greater Denfeld Foundation for student scholarships. Her gift of $2.7 million allowed the Foundation to increase its annual scholarship allocations from about $8,000 annually in 2000 to over $100,000 per year in 2005. Miss Saltwick recognized and valued good character in the students she taught at Denfeld. Each year, 15 new students, who have demonstrated that same good character, are chosen to receive the scholarship created in her name.
Armond Hauge Scholarship
$3,000 | renewable | about 25 annually
Mr. Hauge earned his fortune by being a diligent saver. According to his niece, Juliane Netzel (Denfeld Class of 1965), “From the time he was a youngster, he taught himself to live on half of his paycheck and to save the rest, which led to his substantial investments.” She said her uncle believed in education for everyone, and wanted to help kids go to college. “Education was a big thing for him.”
Every year 25 new students who have demonstrated a strong work ethic are chosen to receive Hauge Scholarships, as Mr. Hauge’s success was due in large part to his respect for hard work and perseverance.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Awards
The Greater Denfeld Foundation provides seven annual scholarship awards to Denfeld High School graduating seniors funded through on-going gifts, donations and investments. These one-time awards are designed to recognize exemplary performance during the school’s Honors Night held each spring in Denfeld’s Auditorium.
Greater Denfeld Foundation “Leaders for Life” Award
$5,000 | 4 annually
The Greater Denfeld Foundation “Leaders for Life” Award is the Foundation’s highest honor given to the “best of the best.” The award is granted to four students who clearly exemplify the “Spirit of a Denfeld Hunter,” with a combination of strong academic success, enjoying the respect of the student body and the faculty, while doing everything they can to improve the standing and build up the reputation of Denfeld High School. Students who receive this honor are recognized for their collective contributions to their school and their community which have left a positive and permanent mark.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Hunter of the Year Award
$2,000 | 1 annually
As a special on-going honor throughout the school year, Denfeld has created a program designed to recognize students from each grade as “Hunters of the Month.” These students are selected based on Denfeld’s core values of Spirit, Opportunity, Achievement, and Respect (SOAR). All the candidates’ names are submitted to our Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies (PBIS) committee every month and two students from each grade are identified to receive this honor. At the end of the school year, all the seniors who have been identified as “Hunters of the Month” are eligible to be named “Hunter of the Year.” The senior who best embodies the SOAR values and has made the most positive impact on the Denfeld High School community is selected. The Greater Denfeld Foundation is proud to include the “Hunter of the Year” recognition in its family of annual scholarship awards.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Linda Soderstrom Service Award
$2,000 | 1 annually
The Greater Denfeld Foundation has continued to fund this award, first established in 1999 by family and friends of Denfeld Home Economics teacher Linda Soderstrom. Soderstrom led the development of Denfeld’s Peer Helper and Mediation programs in 1988, and was known for her commitment to helping students through emotional and academic difficulties. She was a teacher and mentor to countless students, helping to instill in them a sense of caring and personal responsibility to their school and community. The award is given to a student who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to serving their peers, their school and their broader community.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Mark Overland Performing Arts Award
$2,000 | 1 annually
The Greater Denfeld Foundation established the Mark Overland Performing Arts Award to recognize a student who excels in and has been positively influenced by their participation in music or the performing arts programs at Denfeld. Described as a natural teacher, Mark Overland, or Mr. O as “his choir kids” called him, was Denfeld’s choir director for 20 years retiring in 2012, leaving a legacy of nurturing confidence and talent in hundreds of Denfeld’s young performers. He was behind 26 productions in the Denfeld Auditorium and created the show choir groups “Steppin’ Up” and “Solid Gold.” The award is given to a student excelling in and majoring in a music or performing arts degree program.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Stephanie Fehringer STEM Award
$2,000 | 1 annually
The Greater Denfeld Foundation has named its STEM Award in honor of Stephanie Fehringer. Mrs. Fehringer was well known in the Duluth robotics community until her passing in 2024. She and her husband Bruce founded the Denfeld Nation Automation Team 4009 in 2011. Nearly a decade later, the couple served as co-chairs for the regional FIRST Robotics Competition in Duluth. She also helped organize the Arrowhead Robotics Coalition, a group that builds and brings a practice field to the Arrowhead robotics teams in preparation for competitions. Although she was a talented musician, Master Gardener, and Chief Master Sergeant in the Air National Guard, according to Bruce, “Stephanie was known to be always about the students, never about her.”
The award recognizes a student who demonstrates a strong aptitude for exploration and discovery, essential characteristics for success in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and who will be pursuing a degree in any of these fields.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Business, Economics, and Accounting (BEA) Award
$2,000 | 1 annually
The BEA (Business, Economics, Accounting) Award was established by the Greater Denfeld Foundation to recognize a student who demonstrates a strong aptitude for the skills and disciplines required for achievement in the world of business and commerce. The BEA Award is given to a student who will be pursuing a Business, Economics or Accounting degree.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Health Science Award
$2,000 | 1 annually
The Health Science Award was established by the Greater Denfeld Foundation to recognize an outstanding student who demonstrates a deep interest in and strong aptitude for the essential disciplines and the personal characteristics necessary for an innovative career in applying science to health. The award is given to a student who will be pursuing a degree in a health-related field.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Trades Award
$2,000 | 1 annually
The Trades Award was established by the Greater Denfeld Foundation to recognize a student who demonstrates strong skills and aptitude for pursuit of a career in any aspect of today’s demanding and high-level trades environment. The award is given to a student pursuing a degree in (but not limited to) a building, industrial or mechanical-related trade career.
Memorial Awards
Darin Cannon Memorial Scholarship
$1,250 | 1 annually
His family, friends and classmates were shocked that this could happen to such a wonderful young man. Their hope is that this scholarship will forever be a reminder that violence is never the answer to solving conflict, and that it might encourage others to take a stand and try to defuse any situation in which conflict might erupt. Designed to “Promote Peace Among Peers,” the award is given to an athlete who demonstrates these peacemaking characteristics and works hard in school and all other aspects of life.
G. Dell Daedo Leadership Award
$1,000 | 2 annually
Students receiving the Leadership Award should be proud and honored to carry on Mr. Daedo’s legacy of generosity and respect. Recipients should model a generosity of spirit, and conduct themselves in a respectful manner, both in and out of school. The Leadership Award is given to students who demonstrate a combination of leadership, good academics, contributions to the school, and enjoy the respect of the student body and the faculty.
Richard Jukich Scholarship
$1,000 | 1 annually
The award is given to a student who demonstrates a combination of these characteristics along with good academics, contributions to Denfeld, has the respect of the student body and the faculty, and who intends to pursue a degree in education.
Matt Kero #4 Memorial Scholarship
$1,604 | 2 annually
These two $1604 scholarships are awarded to student athletes who have balanced athletic achievement, academics, leadership and citizenship throughout their high school careers. Denfeld coaches nominate the candidates.
Kelly Kreager Ackerman Scholarship
$1,000 | 1 annually
Kelly and her sister Julia (class of 1989) were third generation Denfeld graduates. Her father Russell (class of 1965) and grandmother Dorothy (Dahl) Kreager (class of 1934), have always taken great pride in Denfeld’s traditions. The school and education are very close to the heart of the Kreager family. Through the generosity of friends, coworkers and family, this scholarship was established to honor Kelly’s memory.
The award is given to a female student attending college in Minnesota who challenges herself to reach her dreams and exhibits leadership, integrity and determination in all her endeavors.
Click to view Never Say Never, a poem by Kelly.
Americo “Mertz” Mortorelli Scholarship
$1,000 | 1 annually
The “Mertz” Mortorelli Scholarship makes it possible for the coach to continue to shape young people into great men and women. The scholarship is awarded to a male or female athlete who has participated in four years of high school athletics and is of good academic standing. The recipient must attend a four-year college or university.
Faculty & Staff Donations
The Greater Denfeld Foundation Memorial Fund
$10,000 – $15,000 | Awarded annually to Denfeld staff members
Every fall, the Greater Denfeld Foundation Memorial Fund provides between $10,000 and $15,000 in donations to teachers and staff of Denfeld High School to enhance the educational experience of the school’s students. Applications are due annually in the fall.
HOW OUR DONATIONS MAKE AN IMPACT
