Ruth L. Espe Scholarship

Scholarship Criteria: At the time of the award, eligible student recipients shall be enrolled as full-time students at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. Preference is given to students majoring in Education and, if possible, students from North Dakota. Recipients should represent and demonstrate the high ideals of the Mission, Vision, and Values of the University of Northwestern.

Scholarship Story (written by Sally Shaffer):

Following my mom’s death in 1999, the family decided a good way to remember her (the caring, capable, and devoted former school teacher) was a scholarship in her name. She was born and raised in LaMoure, North Dakota, and attended teacher’s college in Valley City (note: Valley City State University was originally founded as a teachers’ college in 1890).

Her first assignment was in a one-room schoolhouse. The year before she died, her granddaughter and I brought her back to Spiritwood, North Dakota, for the 125th year celebration of the school and town. She was acknowledged and proudly stood at 91 years of age. Because of her influence, I, too, became an elementary school teacher.