Jodi Morgan Retzlaff Endowed Memorial Scholarship

Criteria includes:

• Applicant must be pursuing an associate degree or certificate.
• Applicant must provide proof of a 2.0+ GPA.
• Applicant must be able to demonstrate financial need by applying for FAFSA.
• Preference will be given to a student living independently. Applicant must provide a written essay (200 "“ 300 words) explaining current living/housing situation.
  As a young woman Jodi channeled her energy towards being an independent adult and knew furthering her education was going to become the key to success. Jodi learned quickly that earning enough money to pay her bills was very difficult; it frequently required her to have more than one job at a time. She discovered that working this many hours left very little time to go back to school. The money she earned was spent living day to day. But she was determined to find the time and resources to take classes at MCC. Jodi was in the midst of overcoming the challenges she faced. She struggled and fought for grants that would pay for her tuition. She found an employer that she believed would support her desire to attend school and provide her with a flexible work schedule. She pared down her living expenses and shared her plans with her parents to gain as much support as they could provide. Then it all came to an end. A mid-day car accident, seemingly faultless and certainly unexpected closed the book on her future and her struggle was done. Jodi always recognized when life was unfair to others. She was empathetic, showed concern, and worked towards making things better. The challenges she faced during her all too short life helped her develop strength of character that we want to recognize and foster among other young women. Jodi’s determination provided her with a path to success. We hope through this scholarship others will have the opportunity to pursue their educational goals which will ultimately lead them to a successful future.